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Blavity News is a community and platform for Black Voices, Stories, Creators and thought.
© Blavity, Inc., 2020

News

Bay Area Teen Gets Surprise Call From Kamala Harris After Drawing Stunning Portrait Of Her

Tyler Gordon has been showing dozens of similar paintings on his Twitter account.

by Tomas Kassahun

November 27, 2020 at 9:10 pm

The Bay Area teenager who drew a mesmerizing portrait of Kamala Harris has received a phone call from the subject of his drawing. The vice president-elect took notice of Tyler Gordon's elaborate painting after it went viral last week and expressed her gratitude in a phone call on Wednesday.

“I’m overwhelmed with just the magnificence of your artistry,” Harris said on the phone call. “You really have a gift, my goodness, such a gift. I was so touched to see it.”

Thank you so much Mrs. @KamalaHarris it was amazing talking with you today!!!
Also thank you Mrs. @ChelseaClinton for believing in me and helping me to reach Mrs. Harris!!! pic.twitter.com/5eA6Oy2WtG
— Tyler Gordon (@Official_tylerg) November 26, 2020

The California senator and vice president-elect reminded the 14-year-old about the impact he's making as an artist.

"It's a very special thing to be an artist like you," Harris said. "People you'll never meet are gonna be touched by the work you do."

The Bay area teenager, who has drawn similar pictures in the past, posted a time-lapse video of himself painting the portrait last week and said he hoped Harris would take notice.

"@KamalaHarris My name is Tyler Gordon and I'm 14 years old and I live in the Bay Area! I painted this picture of you and I hope you like it!!! Please Rt and tag her so that she can see this. Please!!!" the teen wrote when he posted the drawing.

@KamalaHarris My name is Tyler Gordon and I'm 14 years old and I live in the Bay Area! I painted this picture of you and I hope you like it!!! Please Rt and tag her so that she can see this. Please!!!@JoeBiden @DouglasEmhoff @SenKamalaHarris @WeGotGame2 pic.twitter.com/X0qtChKBf2
— Tyler Gordon (@Official_tylerg) November 23, 2020

The artist was absolutely jubilant when he got the call from Harris.

"She called me!!!!!! Kamala Harris called ME!!!!"

She called me!!!!!! @KamalaHarris called ME!!!!https://t.co/gseAc9L6p8
— Tyler Gordon (@Official_tylerg) November 26, 2020

Gordon appeared stunned during the phone call with the woman who has inspired him.

"I'm doing fine now that you have called," he said. "I'm surprised."

The two California residents then planned to one day meet in person.

"It means so much to me," Harris said as she continued to express her appreciation. "It really touches me very deeply."

Gordon was equally as grateful, thanking the senator throughout the conversation.

"Thank you. This is an honor," he said.

In an interview with NBC Bay Area, the San Jose teen said he chose to draw the trailblazer because she has inspired him to overcome the challenges in his life.

"She broke through tons of barriers and I broke through tons of barriers myself with my stutter, me being in a wheelchair for two years and me being deaf since I was six," the artist told the news station. "I broke through tons of barriers and I feel like she represents that."

Harris will make history when she takes office in January, becoming the first Black vice president, as well as the first woman and first person of South Asian descent to hold the position, as Blavity previously reported.

Gordon has been showing dozens of similar paintings on his Twitter account. His drawings include Cardi B, Kenya Barris, LeBron James and Missy Elliott.