Gayle Kabaker, is a world renowned artist and freelance illustrator. Gayle powerfully captures the essence of empowering women on canvas. And in 2019 she was asked to do just that. But it wasn’t just one woman or even a couple of women. The project -100 women in just over a year. 100 portraits on canvas: ‘Vital Voices: 100 Women Using Their Power to Empower.’ The women are from all over the world. There’s a mixture of household names and unsung heroines in the front lines of change. Among the portraits: Leah Lizarondo, co-founder of 412 Food Rescue, Nadia Murad, human rights advocate and winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, and Sara Blakely, founder of Spanx.
Gayle is a freelance illustrator covering everything from fashion and general illustration, to animation, logo and brand development. Her work has graced the cover of New Yorker magazine four times. Gayle’s first New Yorker magazine cover was, ‘June Brides’ celebrating gay marriage in 2012. In addition to painting, Gayle has written, directed and produced two award winning 5 minute movies – The Great Ashfield Pancaper and Pandcaper 2 – Mr. Jones Strikes Back. Gayle graduated from the Academy of Art in San Francisco. She moved to Western Massachusetts over 30 years ago with her husband artist Peter Kitchell.