"My character in the image 'The Imaginary Cowboy' sadly seems even more relevant today than when I created it back in 2016. The image was part of my series 'She Could Have been A Cowboy'. A series about wanting to be another, raising the question of who is really free to be who they want to be. My intention was to create a character that could stand for a vast number of things, a symbol for all those dreams not being fulfilled. It saddens me that so many people feel forced to live their life being someone they’re not, and I increasingly continue too long for a day where we are all more accepting.'
Anja Niemi