Heimans helped unveil his portrait of financier and philanthropist Darla Moore on Friday (March 20) afternoon in a new building that opened last summer and bears Moore’s name at the University of South Carolina. The 14-by-8-foot oil painting of Moore was placed in the heart of the Darla Moore School of Business, America’s top-ranked institution for international business and the first U.S. business school named for a woman.
The painting is Heimans’ first portrait of a prominent American figure. The portrait sets Moore standing on the stairs in the courtyard of the business school during its construction, looking out over the progress of the building.
“Its dynamic composition reflects the energy and momentum of Darla as a business leader and as an individual, whilst the strong lines and powerful perspective suggest the limitless possibilities that the school promises to create,” Heimans said. “The portrait is both inspirational and aspirational – ultimately it celebrates the philanthropic tradition that she is continuing through the creation of the school as a place of learning, ideas and future success for her home state of South Carolina.”
Moore, who addressed students, faculty and business leaders at the unveiling, said the portrait reflects her expectations for the business school.
“It was done as part of my desire to deliver a powerful message to everyone entering the Darla Moore School that everything we do as part of the development of our school, from the design of the building to the portraits we hang to the quality of students learning, is done with the expectation of excellence at the highest levels,” Moore said. “Thank you, Ralph, for such an inspiring portrait. You have truly captured the vision of excellence I have for this institution.”
Speaking directly to the students, Moore said, “The most powerful driver for my investment and involvement with the Darla Moore School of Business is your success. I want a degree from our business school to be your most valuable possession as you go out into the business world. I want your degree to be the gold standard for businesses looking for the very best graduates to lead their companies.”
Heimans first met Moore in New York in early 2013. With the business school under construction, he looked at 3D models of the building and site before selecting the dramatic perspective of the stairways as the foundation for the portrait’s composition. The initial sitting was a year later in April 2014 when construction was well underway.
“The setting of the unfinished building site created a bold linear framework for the composition and enhanced the sense of the narrative in the portrait. Darla’s expression is nuanced – she means business, but she is possessed of a great composure, inner strength, warmth and wit,” Heimans said. “These were all attributes that I wanted to bring to the portrait. I hope it is a fitting tribute to the work of this remarkable woman.”
Moore, who earned her bachelor’s degree from the university in 1975, is its leading benefactor, having made two gifts – $25 million in 1998 and $45 million in 2004 – to the business school and a $5 million gift in 2011 to establish the Ronald E. McNair Center for Aerospace Innovation and Research, which is helping to fuel the Palmetto State’s burgeoning aerospace industry.
Until 2012, Moore was vice president of Rainwater Inc., a Fort Worth, Texas-based private investment company. She is founder and chair of the Palmetto Institute, a nonprofit think tank aimed at bolstering per capita income in South Carolina and is the first woman to be profiled on the cover of Fortune Magazine and named to the List of the Top 50 Most Powerful Women in American Business.
A native of Sydney, Heimans was recently awarded the Order of Australia for services to portraiture. His works hang in national institutions around the world. His portrait of the queen is now part of Westminster Abbey’s permanent collection.
Heimans is renowned for his large scale portraits that explore multi-layered narratives to capture the essence of his subjects who are leaders in the fields of art, academia, law, business, politics and philanthropy. Among his most notable works are those of Crown Princess Mary of Denmark and legendary Russian pianist and conductor Vladimir Ashkenazy. Heimans is sought for his ability to marry subject and context through the complex use of geometry, reflection and perspective. Inspired by 17th-century masters of chiaroscuro, Heimans’ use of light appears to illuminate the inner world of his subjects. To see his work, visit the website http://ralphheimans.com/
Heimans painting of Moore was commissioned and gifted by the Greater Houston Community Foundation.
The new Darla Moore School of Business building, the university’s most ambitious construction project to date, opened in August 2014. It was designed by Rafael Vinoly Architects of New York, known for creating some of the world’s most iconic buildings. The Moore School building is noted for its cantilevered and glass design that maximizes natural light throughout its open interior to encourage collaboration and creativity. Moore’s portrait is placed on the learning level, adjacent the W. W. “Hootie” Johnson Performance Hall, a 500-seat space shared with the School of Music. Built at a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum level, the school is pursuing a net-zero rating through a partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy.
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About the Darla Moore School of Business The Darla Moore School of Business is among the highest-ranked business schools in the world for international business education and research. Founded in 1919, the school has a history of innovative educational leadership, blending academic preparation with real-world experience through internships, consulting projects, study-abroad programs and entrepreneurial opportunities. The Moore School offers undergraduate, master’s and doctoral degrees, as well as distinctive executive education programs. In 1998, the school was named for South Carolina native and New York financier Darla Moore, making the University of South Carolina the first major university to name its business school after a woman.
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