Art-girl favourite Tamara De Lempicka lived an epic life between 1898 and 1980. Known for her highly stylised art-deco portraits of aristocrats, and sensual nudes, she is one of our favourite female artists. Born in Poland, Tamara worked mostly between France and the US before settling in Mexico. But what did she accomplish throughout her long career? Well, here’s everything you need to know!
Her First Work Was Made In Protest
Tamara’s mother, Malwina Decler, a Polish socialite had Tamara’s portrait commissioned, but Tamara hated it. In protest she took pastels and worked over it to make a portrait of her sister.
She Was Known As The Baroness with a Brush
In 1928 Tamara became the mistress of art collector Baron Raoul Kuffner, whom she married in 1933 after his wife passed away. In response to the affair the press called Tamara The Baroness with a Brush.
She First Exhibited Under A Male Name
In the 1920s, having studied in Paris, Tamara exhibited her works at the Salon des Independents, the Salon d’automne and Salon des moins de trente ans, but she initially signed her paintings Lempitzki, the male version of her name. She perhaps made the decision to do so since we all know how much art history has been to men than women…
She Painted Royalty
Amongst Tamara’s sitters were royal figures like King Alfonso XIII of Spain and Queen Elizabeth of Greece. And besides her royal connections, she was pals with art royalty too, being acquainted with the likes of Pablo Picasso and Salvador Dali.
She Is Known For Painting Nudes
Besides portraits, Tamara is famous for painting highly stylised female nudes, and also, madonnas. Because, ya know, the Virgin Mary is totally complimentary to a naked lady…
She Is Famous For Her Sexuality
Tamara had a colourful social life, with several marriages and affairs, but perhaps noteworthy for the time, she is also known for her bisexuality. In fact, many articles explain that she was closely associated with lesbian and bisexual women in writing and artistic circles during the 1920s. She is also reported to have had a relationship with nightclub singer Suzy Solidor, whose portrait she also painted.
Madonna’s A Fan
Madonna is one of Lempicka’s star collectors (others include Jack Nicholson and Barbra Streisand), bragging that she owns a Lempicka Museum. Some of Tamara’s paintings were also featured in Madonna’s music videos for “Open Your Heart” (1987), “Express Yourself” (1989), “Vogue” (1990) and “Drowned World/Substitute for Love” (1998). Her artworks also appeared in the 1990 Blond Ambition World Tour.
Her Work Is Worth Millions
Just this month her 1932 Portrait de Marjorie Ferry solde for $21.2 million at Christie’s in London, and we’re sure her prices are only set to rise. Kerching!
Even Her Death Was Dramatic
Tamara’s ashes were scattered over Popocatepetl volcano in Mexico, where she had moved in 1974, after her own request.
Text Lizzy Vartanian
