Amanda Bouquet utilizes the alchemy of portraiture to empower subjects once considered mundane: sexist car ads of the 60’s and 70’s. Her series, Hot Girls and Their Cool Cars, recalls the history of equestrian portraiture of the Renaissance and Baroque periods. There, the power and status of the subject were embodied in the grandeur of the horse. In the vintage car ad, the model is presented as a fantasy accessory that could potentially come with the car. When transformed through the artist’s intention and medium, the woman is empowered to become the driver, the owner, next to her slick ride.

This work highlights the complex history of the use of women in advertising and its effects. Bouquet transforms what was demeaning into something badass. Reclaiming the fantasy of ownership.