63. ELIZABETH PEYTON (B. 1965) Mai (Afterlife) after Sir Joshua Reynolds' Portrait of Mai (Omai), 1776, 2023 Silkscreen on Sommerset wove paper Signed, dated and numbered 32/100 in pencil on the back Presented in the original slipcase Published by Avant Arte, Amsterdam 50 x 36.9 cm In support of the National Portrait Gallery in London, Elizabeth Peyton depicts the subject of Reynolds' eighteenth-century portrait in gestural fuchsia. Reynolds' original painting portrays Mai - a Pacific Islander from Raiatea who travelled to England in 1773 and became a prominent figure in aristocratic society - at full length, barefoot in flowing robes. In her rendition, Peyton focuses entirely on Mai's face, which she renders evocatively in loose strokes of oil paint. Peyton's artwork has been meticulously translated into a 15-layer, limited edition silkscreen in close collaboration artisan printmakers at Make-Ready in London - one of a pair of editions launched in support of the National Portrait Gallery in London. Re-opening in June 2023, the Gallery's diversified collection focuses on presenting an inclusive and dynamic picture of the people who have contributed to the rich history of the United Kingdom.