Mary Whitlock’s self-portrait ‘Lifted by the Greats’, expresses the joy and privilege of having creative freedom. The title references the 1971 essay by the art historian Linda Nochlin ‘Why have there been no great women artists?’. Whilst studying for her degree in Art History, Mary admired and took inspiration from artists throughout art history who have portrayed themselves and taken control of their own image and narrative. Here, her joyous stance shows an artist supported and uplifted by the self-portraits of Judith Leyster, Laura Knight, Frida Kahlo, and Artemisia Gentileschi.