A brush with greatness: Broward Health collaborates on Messi portrait
Broward Health doctors, nurses and caregivers who helped paint a portrait of Lionel Messi will soon present the work of art to the GOAT himself.
The clinicians each painted a stroke of the 30”x40” portrait, working earlier this month with Broward artist Joseph Gormley. The event was organized by Embrace Life Children’s Foundation, based in Pompano Beach, which supports medically needy children and their families.
The initiative has been working to bring together public service workers such as firefighters, law enforcement, local government and healthcare workers, each adding a single brush stroke to a Messi painting begun by Gormley.
Later this month, Gormley, a Scottish-born artist who has a day job as an elementary school janitor, will present the workers’ masterpiece to the Inter Miami star as a welcome gift to South Florida.
Gormley works at Park Trails Elementary School in Parkland. His website includes an assortment of colorful portrayals he has designed in his spare time, including portraits of former baseball player Jeff Conine, the Mona Lisa and a Broward Sheriff’s Office German shepherd.
Gormley previously had four of his Messi paintings autographed by the soccer star and is in the process of auctioning them off for charity. No date has been set yet for the public unveiling of this newest work.
