Artist behind Clinton portrait in Epstein files remembers selling first piece

Petrina Ryan-Kleid remembers the profound impact of selling her first artwork at just 16 years old. In late 1987, the high school student sold a portrait of a man for $150, a sale that provided a crucial boost during a difficult home life and made her dream of becoming an artist feel more attainable.

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It was right at the end of 1987. I'd been chosen to put my painting, [another work], up, and the art teacher told me somebody was interested in buying my work.

Her father's support was instrumental, taking her to art exhibitions and framing the check from the sale. The buyer, Terri Lew, a Gold Coast mother, also cherished the piece. She acquired it when she and her husband were struggling financially but felt compelled by the painting's allure, comparing its captivating quality to the Mona Lisa.

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It was a tough time at home, and the [sale] just gave me a huge boost.

Lew held onto the artwork for nearly four decades, displaying it in her gallery's packing room as a reminder of her collection's origins. Her curiosity about the artist eventually led her to use social media and radio interviews to find Ryan-Kleid.

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That support made the dream of becoming an artist feel a little more real.

Ryan-Kleid went on to study art in New York, earning a Master of Fine Arts. Her later work included satirical portraits of US presidents and a piece titled "Parsing Bill" (2012), which was exhibited and later sold to Jeffrey Epstein. This portrait, depicting Bill Clinton in a blue dress, gained notoriety after Epstein's death and the subsequent release of his files.

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It was the first piece I ever collected. We were broke but I couldn't walk away.