The Honourable Chief Justice Susan Kiefel AC

2022, oil on linen, 160 x 120 cm

The subject of this portrait is The Honourable Chief Justice Susan Kiefel AC. I was approached by a wonderful organisation of women to produce a portrait that would commemorate the centenary of women being allowed to practice law and stand for parliament in NSW (Women's Legal Status Act 1918).  

The centenary initiative facilitated my meeting with the Chief Justice. The sitting was conducted in the Chief Justice’s chambers at the High Court of Australia (yes, the one in movie “The Castle”). I was rather nervous. My intention was to capture the commanding and graceful presence of the Chief Justice (and her love of stylish shoes). Her incredible intellect is represented by the books that were positioned behind her during the sitting. To commemorate 100 years of women in law in NSW there are 100 books on the bookshelf. These books do not have words or numbers on the spine to represent the anonymity of the many women who have worked their arses off to achieve their goals.