Our Team & Story

‘It started with an online friendship and a shared frustration while continents apart.'

Pegah Kargar and Liezel Strauss connected online during the global pandemic while each leading their own social enterprise. They shared a passion and frustration: they both loved art but were shocked by how little the gender gap is addressed and solved within the art world. They started collaborating on gender activism projects to amplify their voice. The partnership fuelled their determination to help create a better art eco-system.

In August 2022 they met in person and the idea of collaboration over competition was born. Repaint History and ArtGirlRising merged with the goal to reach more people, share resources and knowledge and to ultimately have greater impact.

  • Pegah Kargar

    Co-Founder

    Iranian/Canadian Pegah Kargar founded Repaint History in 2018 after working in the financial industry for over a decade. She has been highlighted and profiled as a key advocate for female artists and has championed their work to be acquired and/or represented by museums and galleries across the world. In partnership with 8 other leading organizations she has launched the Fair Art 2030 initiative, a pledge project for museums and galleries to address gender equality and race representation by 2030.

  • Liezel Strauss

    Co-Founder

    Liezel Strauss is a South African/British social entrepreneur. She co-founded Subject Matter, one of the the first online art galleries in 2011. In 2018 she launched ArtGirlRising in support of female artists. In 2019 Liezel was chosen to be 1 of 9 innovators to represent the UN Women 'Impossible to Ignore' campaign and she was named one of the UN Women's top 100 female innovators worldwide. In 2020 Liezel co-founded Where Are The Women Artists? (WATWA) A database and open directory for women artists & she is the co-founder of the Fair Art 2030 Pledge.

  • Nina Sareena Idris

    Community Manager

    Nina Sareena Idris is from Malaysia with over a decade experience working in film, theatre, and cultural events for companies such as Disney, Airbnb, and AirAsia. Nina co-directed a local art tour business in Kuala Lumpur, and studied art in NYC. Nina handles all management of our online presence, as well as streamline all communications with our clients and partners. If you have ever reached out to us in the past, you’ve most likely spoken to Nina. Outside of Repaint History, Nina is a writer, storyteller, and essayist.