Unveiling showcases recently completed portrait commissions and figurative works by some of the Portrait Society of America’s most accomplished and active members. In this month’s feature, Kimberly Azzarito, Director of Programs for the Portrait Society of America, speaks with Ying-He Liu about her striking portrait of North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper, as well as the inspiration, challenges and evolving role of portraiture in today’s cultural landscape.

A Lasting Legacy in Paint: The Official Portrait of Governor Roy Cooper

By Kimberly Azzarito

The commission to paint Governor Roy Cooper’s official portrait came through artist Ying-He Liu’s long-standing professional connection. Jean Daniel, President of J. Daniel Portraiture & Fine Art in Raleigh, North Carolina, presented a select group of artists to the North Carolina Executive Mansion Fine Arts Commission. After reviewing portfolios and holding discussions, the governor and Mrs. Cooper chose Liu for this significant project.

The setting for the portrait was as important as the subject himself. North Carolina’s Governor’s Mansion, built during the Civil War period, and now serving as both residence and museum, houses an impressive collection of gubernatorial portraits by celebrated artists such as Daniel E. Greene, John Howard Sanden, Ron Sherr, Michael Shane Neal and John Siebels Walker. Their works set a high standard and serve as inspiration. Liu’s task was to create a portrait that would fit within this classic collection while capturing Governor Cooper’s individuality.

Ying-He Liu, Roy Asberry Cooper III, Governor of North Carolina, oil on linen canvas, 56 x 37 in.

Governor Cooper selected the mansion’s library as the backdrop. He proved an ideal subject: charismatic, poised and comfortable in front of the easel. To enrich the composition, Liu included a chair pillow bearing the North Carolina insignia, as well as the library’s bookshelves, which lend both symbolism and visual interest. The deliberate backlighting allows the governor to emerge from the darker background, giving the portrait depth and presence.

Over the years, Liu has been privileged to paint many prominent figures: U.S. Cabinet members, congressional leaders, university presidents, Fortune 500 executives, the founder of a global financial company, among others. Each commission brings its own challenges and rewards, and together they have greatly shaped her artistic journey. The opportunity to create enduring works for such institutions is both humbling and deeply fulfilling.

At present, Liu is working on portraits of medical and business leaders. She also looks forward to devoting more time to non-commissioned work and traveling. For decades, commissions have been Liu’s primary focus, but returning to personal projects will bring her balance and renewal.

The heart of portraiture lies in balancing likeness with artistry. Some of history’s greatest portraits achieve both—a faithful resemblance paired with the intangible qualities that captivate viewers. For Liu, the top priority is always to capture the sitter’s likeness, but that does not mean sacrificing artistic merit. The most successful works rely on the artist’s ability to weave together composition, lighting, color and character. Often it is the fleeting expressions or subtle gestures, the so-called “happy accidents,” that breathe life into the canvas. There is no formula; rather, the artist’s eye and sensitivity guide the process, along with a bit of good fortune when the subject possesses natural presence and instinctive grace.

Classic portraiture continues to endure. Its power lies in timelessness: the ability to preserve not only a likeness but also the dignity, presence and narrative of the sitter. That, ultimately, is what makes portraiture worth preserving, and why Governor Cooper’s portrait will join the ranks of those that honor the history and spirit of North Carolina. —