Helena Wurzel: So you want to Commission a Painting... — CUBE ART BOSTON

We have never seen a Helena “Lanie” Wurzel painting we didn’t love. Her pattern, bold use of color, and unique perspective form a signature style, but there’s more: the moments of connection between family and friends, the space of being together, that grab our attention. Whether capturing a glance, walking a dog, or daydreaming, the quiet moments of daily living reveal a larger narrative. Quite brilliantly, Lanie unlocks the extraordinary in everyday scenes.

In 2023, she was commissioned to paint a portrait of Clayton Rose, the President of Bowdoin College, and found out she enjoyed the commission process and collaborative approach to portrait making. For the Bowdoin commission, Lanie collaborated with Rose to feature his favorite color, blue, and placed him outside (a first for Bowdoin), suggesting the breadth of the campus and its coastal setting. More specifically, it speaks to Rose’s legacy at Bowdoin: “a greener future for the college”. While not a typical college presidential portrait, Lanie believes her style sends a positive message to Bowdoin students: “Clayton has modeled something that hopefully all of Bowdoin’s students learn during their college years … that while traditions are important, it is possible to give yourself permission to change them and create your own traditions.”

Helena Wurzel and Clayton Rose, the President of Bowdoin College

The biggest compliment people give Lanie, beyond loving the portraits, is what a joy she is to work with. We got that feeling on our Cube visit. Her paintings are bold, yet Lanie is approachable, thoughtful, funny, enthusiastic, and incredibly organized. From finding the image (either a previously taken image or a photoshoot with Lanie) to installation, Lanie’s workflow is laid out with attention to make the process run smoothly. The pricing, starting at $1500 and averaging $15,000-20,000k for a large work, depends on the complexity of the image and whether oil or acrylic is the medium of choice.

Commission Process from Sketch to Installation

Milestones for Lanie include Bennett Prize Finalist (prize winner announced May, 2025), The Bowdoin Presidential Portrait Commission (2023), Praise Shadows solo exhibition (2023), Virginia MOCA (2023), and Mass Cultural grants (2010, 2016). Lanie is included in the collections of Fidelity Investments, Andy Samberg, Emma Straub, and Pamela Hornik. And a fun fact: the design director for Kate Spade saw Lanie’s work on 20x200 and asked her to paint promotional imagery for their fashion label.

Kate Spade Ad Featuring Work by Helena Wurzel

Lanie can be reached at hello@helenawurzel.com. Please let Lanie know Cube sent you or contact us to find out more.