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Tamara De-Lempicka Biography
Tamara de Lempicka, born Tamara Rozalia Gurwik-Górska on May 16, 1898, in Warsaw, Poland, was a painter who became an iconic figure of the Art Deco movement. Her life was as vivid and dramatic as her art, characterized by a bold sense of modernity, luxury, and a notorious personal life that included numerous affairs with both men and women.
De Lempicka's early life was one of privilege and culture. Her father was a Russian-Jewish lawyer, and her mother was a Polish socialite. After her parents' divorce, she was raised by her wealthy grandmother, who indulged her with travel and exposure to the arts. This early exposure to the Italian Renaissance masters would later influence her own artistic style.
In 1916, during World War I, Tamara met and married Tadeusz Łempicki, a prominent Polish lawyer, in St. Petersburg. The Russian Revolution soon upended their lives, and Tadeusz was arrested by the Bolsheviks. Tamara secured his release, and the couple fled to Paris, where they joined the community of Russian émigrés.
In Paris, Tamara reinvented herself as Tamara de Lempicka and embarked on her career as an artist. She studied under Maurice Denis and André Lhote, whose Cubist style greatly influenced her work. De Lempicka's paintings from this period began to show her signature style, which blended the geometric forms of Cubism with the sensuousness of Neoclassicism.
By the mid-1920s, de Lempicka had become a sought-after portrait artist among the wealthy and the aristocracy. Her subjects were often depicted in luxurious settings, exuding an air of elegance and sophistication. Her work was not only a reflection of the glamorous Art Deco era but also a celebration of modern, independent women. Her self-portrait "Tamara in a Green Bugatti" epitomizes this image, portraying her as a confident, liberated woman.
De Lempicka's personal life was as flamboyant as her art. She was openly bisexual and her affairs with both men and women were well-known in the social circles of Paris. Her marriage to Tadeusz ended in divorce in 1928, and in 1933 she married her second husband, Baron Raoul Kuffner, a wealthy art collector.
With the rise of fascism in Europe and the onset of World War II, de Lempicka and Kuffner moved to the United States, where she continued to paint and exhibit her work. They first settled in Los Angeles and later moved to New York City. However, by the post-war era, her Art Deco style began to fall out of favor, and she struggled to maintain her earlier success.
In the 1960s, de Lempicka experimented with abstract art, using a palette knife instead of her usual brushwork. Despite these efforts, her work from this period did not achieve the acclaim of her earlier portraits. After the death of her husband in 1961, she moved to Houston to be closer to her daughter, Kizette.
De Lempicka's later years were spent in Mexico, where she continued to paint until her death on March 18, 1980, in Cuernavaca. She was cremated, and her ashes were scattered over the volcano Popocatepetl, as per her wishes.
Tamara de Lempicka's legacy is that of a trailblazing artist who captured the essence of her time. Her paintings, characterized by their bold colors, streamlined forms, and a blend of classical and modern elements, continue to be celebrated for their unique contribution to the Art Deco movement. Her life story, marked by resilience, reinvention, and a relentless pursuit of artistic and personal freedom, remains an inspiration to many.
Tamara De-Lempicka Quotes and
Sales of Works
Ponti Art Gallery selects and deals with paintings by the
artist. Upon request, we provide free estimates and
evaluations, communicate prices, quotations, and current
market values.
If you are interested in BUYING or SELLING works by the
artist, contact us immediately.
If you wish to sell or receive an evaluation of the
works:
Send us a frontal photo of the painting, one of the back,
and one of the signature. Also, indicate the dimensions of
the work. Inform us about the purchase origin of the work
and any kind of available documentation (purchase
receipts, certificates of authenticity, publications). One
of our operators will respond to you on the same day. We
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professionalism.
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