Matthew Shepard Devotional Portrait for the National Cathedral

 

A new devotional portrait of Matthew Shepard for the National Cathedral
From the Cathedral:
“Matthew Wayne Shepard (1976-1998) was interred at Washington National Cathedral in October 2018, twenty years after he was brutally attacked and left to die in a hate crime. In 2022, LGBTQ members of the Cathedral staff commissioned artist and iconographer Kelly Latimore (b. 1986) to paint a portrait of Matthew for use in Cathedral services, gatherings, and pilgrimages associated with Matthew and the LGBTQIA+ community and as a means for personal reflection and education about Matthew’s life and legacy. The background of the portrait was inspired by the rainbow pride flag and includes phrases and words from letters and cards sent to Matthew’s parents, Dennis and Judy Shepard.”
My sincere gratitude to the staff of the National Cathedral, and to Judy and Dennis Shepard for all of their encouragement and work collaborating on this portrait. I am inspired by their continued advocacy for the sacredness of LGBTQ+ lives and all their work fighting against the hatred and violence that is still happening. 
Prints of the portrait are not available at this time. 
Copyright 2022, Washington National Cathedral. Used by permission. All rights reserved