Bill Clinton in a Dress: The Surreal Painting That Hung in Jeffrey Epstein’s New York Mansion

By YEET Magazine Staff, YEET Magazine
Published October 3, 2025

Tags: Epstein Clinton painting, Bill Clinton in dress Epstein, Petrina Ryan-Kleid, “Parsing Bill” painting, Epstein mansion art, Clinton Epstein connection

 A surreal painting of Bill Clinton in a blue dress and red heels hung in Jeffrey Epstein’s New York townhouse — but what do we actually know about its origin, the artist, and how it came into Epstein’s hands?

Jeffrey Epstein’s Manhattan mansion had a bizarre piece of decor: an oil painting of former President Bill Clintonwearing a blue dress and red high heels. The painting, called Parsing Bill, was created in 2012 by artist Petrina Ryan‑Kleid while she was a graduate student at the New York Academy of Art. Snopes+2The Daily Beast+2

A Strange Piece on a Wall

According to reports, the painting was displayed prominently in Epstein’s Upper East Side home. “It was hanging up there prominently — as soon as you walked in — in a room to the right,” a law‑enforcement source told the New York Post. “Everybody who saw it laughed and smirked.” Fox News+1

Despite the surreal image, the artist has said she didn’t know who bought it at first. Ryan‑Kleid painted Parsing Bill as part of her master’s thesis; the piece went up for auction at the school’s 2012 Tribeca Ball fundraiser, and someone purchased it — but she didn’t know their identity. Snopes+2The Daily Beast+2

The Artist Speaks

When Ryan‑Kleid learned the painting showed up in Epstein’s home years later, she said it was a “complete surprise.” The Daily Beast She told The Daily Beast that she had “completely lost track” of the work after the auction. The Daily Beast

She also explained what the image was meant to be: not just a wild joke, but a satirical piece. According to her, the dress and pose were a comment on how politicians — especially presidents — become entangled with scandal and public perception. CyPaint

The model for the painting was Christophe Nayel, who has posed for the New York Academy of Art. He later expressed his own surprise at how the painting resurfaced.

Did Epstein Really Own the Original?

Here’s where things get murky. While multiple media outlets reported that Parsing Bill hung in Epstein’s home, Snopessays it hasn’t been independently verified that Epstein actually owned the original painting. Snopes

Ryan‑Kleid herself told Snopes she wasn’t sure how Epstein acquired the work — she first heard the connection via family, after the 2019 reporting. Snopes

There’s also a question of whether what people saw in Epstein’s house was the original or possibly a print, since prints of the piece were available online. Yahoo+1

Why It’s Not Just Weird — It’s Symbolic

This isn’t just a funny or provocative piece of art. Given Epstein’s history — his high-profile connections, the serious allegations against him, and his controversial social circle — having a painting of Clinton dressed in drag takes on heavier implications.

• Power dynamics: Epstein knew many powerful people, including Clinton. He flew with him on his private jet. fr.timesofisrael.com
• Mockery or leverage: Some see the painting as a jab, others as a symbol. Was it just satire? Or something more insidious — a statement of control, or even blackmail potential?
• Art and scandal: Ryan-Kleid herself said she wanted to comment on how presidents are often wrapped in scandal, so the painting could be read as social or political commentary. CyPaint

What You Can Do Now

• Look up Parsing Bill: Check out Ryan-Kleid’s work to understand it in the context of her portfolio.
• Read more about Epstein’s art collection: The Clinton painting is just one piece of a much stranger picture.
• Follow ongoing investigations: Epstein’s influence and how he wielded his power remain areas of public and legal interest.

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