Allison Lefcort
Encyclopedia
Allison Lefcort is an American painter of “Pop Art” who has also worked with The Walt Disney Company
, Warner Bros. Studios
, The Marilyn Monroe
Estate, Playboy Enterprises
, MTV
, VH1
, and The Grammy’s
.
while at The Lowe Art Museum
of University of Miami
. The Daughter of a Yale Alumni and a visual artist
; education and appreciation of the Arts were a priority. Lefcort describes this period in her life as very important in the development of both her personality, artistic skill.
In the Summer of 1992 Allison Lefcort was the featured artist in a “1-woman show” at the Greenwich Village
Art Gallery. At the age of 17 years old, this show is credited as her 1st professional exhibition of her works. It was at this point that Lefcort’s work become a staple in the Florida art scene, regularly exhibited at the Moon & Me Art Gallery of Boca Raton.
, Marc Chagall
and Richard Avedon
. This marked a turning point in Lefcort’s young career as she was approached to collaborate with both The Walt Disney Company and Warner Bros. Studios. By the end of 1995 Allison Lefcort’s works were featured at the Warner Bros. Studio Store
in Manhattan & Los Angeles. Also that year, Lefcort’s “Rock Icons” were exhibited at the Griffon Gallery in conjunction with the opening of the Rock-n-Roll Hall of Fame
.
In 1996 Lefcort was chosen by the Democratic National Committee
to paint a portrait of the then First Lady
, Hillary Rodham Clinton
. This portrait was presented to Clinton during the “When Women Vote, Women Win” Conference at Florida Atlantic University
.
1997 saw Lefcort paint the 1st in of a series of paintings for National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences
(The Grammy’s). This commissioned portrait was of the all-time most nominated Grammy artist, with a total of 76 nominations and 26 awards, Quincy Jones
. Lefcort went on to paint the recipient of the Humanitarian of the Year award for a number of years, and included such subjects as Sting, Phil Collins
, Tony Bennett
, Natalie Cole
, Gloria Estefan
, Bonnie Raitt
, David Crosby
, and Stevie Wonder
.
Although approached by The Walt Disney Company to interpret their characters in her “pop portrait style” in 1995, it was not until 1998 the Lefcort made her 1st appearance with Disney. In 1999 Allison was featured at an exhibition of interpretive art with Disney characters as the focus of interpretation. This also marked the release of Lefcort’s first limited edition
entitled “Tinker-bell”. Lefcort attended the opening of this exhibition and was the focus of a guest artist event in Disneyland, at the Disneyland Gallery. Lefcort went on to interpret Disney characters for a number of special events including the Disneyana Conventions (1999–2001).
In 2001 Lefcort returned to the Grammy’s to paint Luciano Pavarotti
. Lefcort remembers the short time spent with Pavarotti as one of warmth can compassion. Lefcort was in Rome
at the time of his passing in September 2007.
By 2002 critics began to take notice of Lefcort’s flamboyant style
of “bold imagery and bright colors”. Lefcort was commissioned by Playboy Enterprises
to paint a portrait of Tom Petty
for an upcoming article about the American singer-songwriter
. This portrait was used in the December 2002 issue of Playboy
, and featured (then Marilyn Manson
girlfriend) Dita Von Teese
on the cover.
Lefcort’s work with Playboy lead to the creation of Hugh Hefner
’s official portrait, painted in 1993. This portrait was 1st used in the centerfold photo shoot for the 1993 Playmate of the Year Christina Santiago. Since then the painting has been used a number of times for both print and film shoots including such shows as The Girls Next Door
, and The Apprentice
. Lefcort’s works became the focus of 10th episode of season 3 entitled “Hef’s Vegas Birthday”, which originally aired May 20, 2007. Before he became the world's most recognized publisher, Hef aspired to be an artist, even took art classes at the Chicago Art Institute
. His appreciation of the arts has guided him to put together one the premiere private collections of art in the United States. On Playboy.com
Allison Lefcort is listed as one of his favorite artists.
Lefcort’s works were included in an exhibition and sale at Christie's
New York: Wednesday, February 5, 2003. In addition to Lefcort the “House Sale” featured the works by Corrado Giaquinto
, and Lorenzo Sabatini
. This auction marks the first sale of Lefcort’s work by a major auction house.
Lefcort’s portrait of Hussein bin Talal
, The King of Jordan was selected as part of an exhibition of works known as the “Peace Makers”. In 2004 this portrait served as the backdrop for the famous Today show interview of Queen Noor, conducted by Katie Couric
.
Lefcort’s exposure in both film and print led to a series of 5 solo exhibitions in Japan from 2004 to 2007. These exhibitions included iconic Rock-n-Roll
images, Hollywood Icons, and her interpretive work for The Walt Disney Company.
In 2006 Lefcort was chosen to create a “pop portrait” for the release of Jerry Bruckheimer’s Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest
. This portrait featured Johnny Depp
in his portrayal of Captain Jack Sparrow
. Later that year Lefcort created a portrait of Rod Stewart
at the Hard Rock Live in Hollywood, FL.
Lefcort’s work was recently exhibited at the D23 Expo in Anaheim, CA. This 4 day event feature appearance by Nicolas Cage
, John Travolta
, Johnny Depp, and Miley Cyrus
.
Style
Lefcort has come a long way since since here 1st portrait of Dan Marino in 1980. Nowadays, her portraits are easily recognizable due to the monochromatic scheme of black/white/grey for the foreground, and bright bold colors of the background. Lefcort exclusively uses acrylic paint
s on paper, wood, or canvas to create her pop art
portraits. Lefcort’s design and drafting of the portrait often takes longer than the actual physical painting of the work. On Lefcort’s website she states “ That boldness and simplicity are the keys to unlocking the imagery.”
Although primarily known for her “pop portraits”, Lefcort is also recognized for her “Love Alli” series, featuring a collection of hearts created in Oil pastels. These hearts, originally produced as a gift for her mother have been reproduced in a number of limited editions including “Seasons of Love”, “Love Always” & “Let Me Count the Ways”.
”A bit of a star-gazer,”..."my art has been greatly influenced by the boldness of Andy Warhol
and simplicity of Keith Haring
. That boldness and simplicity are the keys to unlocking the imagery. The vibrant colors of the background set the tone, as the shapes and shadows bring the portrayal to life."
The Walt Disney Company
The Walt Disney Company is the largest media conglomerate in the world in terms of revenue. Founded on October 16, 1923, by Walt and Roy Disney as the Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio, Walt Disney Productions established itself as a leader in the American animation industry before diversifying into...
, Warner Bros. Studios
Warner Bros.
Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc., also known as Warner Bros. Pictures or simply Warner Bros. , is an American producer of film and television entertainment.One of the major film studios, it is a subsidiary of Time Warner, with its headquarters in Burbank,...
, The Marilyn Monroe
Marilyn Monroe
Marilyn Monroe was an American actress, singer, model and showgirl who became a major sex symbol, starring in a number of commercially successful motion pictures during the 1950s....
Estate, Playboy Enterprises
Playboy Enterprises
Playboy Enterprises, Inc. is a privately held global media and lifestyle company founded by Hugh Marston Hefner to manage the Playboy magazine empire. Its programming and content are available worldwide on television networks, Websites, mobile platforms and radio...
, MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
, VH1
VH1
VH1 or Vh1 is an American cable television network based in New York City. Launched on January 1, 1985 in the old space of Turner Broadcasting's short-lived Cable Music Channel, the original purpose of the channel was to build on the success of MTV by playing music videos, but targeting a slightly...
, and The Grammy’s
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
.
Early life
Allison Lefcort showed early artistic talent. In 1980 at the age of 5 years old, Lefcort created a portrait of Dan MarinoDan Marino
Daniel Constantine "Dan" Marino, Jr. is a retired American football quarterback who played for the Miami Dolphins in the National Football League...
while at The Lowe Art Museum
Lowe Art Museum
The Lowe Art Museum is an art museum located in Coral Gables, Florida, a Miami suburb in Miami-Dade County. The museum is run and operated by the University of Miami and opened in 1950. The museum has an extensive collection of art with permanent collections in Greco-Roman antiquities, Renaissance,...
of University of Miami
University of Miami
The University of Miami is a private, non-sectarian university founded in 1925 with its main campus in Coral Gables, Florida, a medical campus in Miami city proper at Civic Center, and an oceanographic research facility on Virginia Key., the university currently enrolls 15,629 students in 12...
. The Daughter of a Yale Alumni and a visual artist
Visual arts
The visual arts are art forms that create works which are primarily visual in nature, such as ceramics, drawing, painting, sculpture, printmaking, design, crafts, and often modern visual arts and architecture...
; education and appreciation of the Arts were a priority. Lefcort describes this period in her life as very important in the development of both her personality, artistic skill.
In the Summer of 1992 Allison Lefcort was the featured artist in a “1-woman show” at the Greenwich Village
Greenwich Village
Greenwich Village, , , , .in New York often simply called "the Village", is a largely residential neighborhood on the west side of Lower Manhattan in New York City. A large majority of the district is home to upper middle class families...
Art Gallery. At the age of 17 years old, this show is credited as her 1st professional exhibition of her works. It was at this point that Lefcort’s work become a staple in the Florida art scene, regularly exhibited at the Moon & Me Art Gallery of Boca Raton.
Professional career
In 1995 Lefcort exhibited for the 1st time at New York’s “International Art Expo”. Lefcort’s works were featured along side the works of such artists as Peter MaxPeter Max
Peter Max is a German-born Jewish American artist. At first, works in this style appeared on posters and were seen on the walls of college dorms all across America. Max then became fascinated with new printing techniques that allowed for four-color reproduction on product merchandise...
, Marc Chagall
Marc Chagall
Marc Chagall Art critic Robert Hughes referred to Chagall as "the quintessential Jewish artist of the twentieth century."According to art historian Michael J...
and Richard Avedon
Richard Avedon
Richard Avedon was an American photographer. An obituary published in The New York Times said that "his fashion and portrait photographs helped define America's image of style, beauty and culture for the last half-century."-Photography career:Avedon was born in New York City to a Jewish Russian...
. This marked a turning point in Lefcort’s young career as she was approached to collaborate with both The Walt Disney Company and Warner Bros. Studios. By the end of 1995 Allison Lefcort’s works were featured at the Warner Bros. Studio Store
The Warner Bros. Studio Store
The Warner Bros. Studio Store was a chain of retail stores selling Looney Tunes and other merchandise based on Warner Bros. films, similar in style to The Disney Store. They first opened in 1991 and when Warner Bros...
in Manhattan & Los Angeles. Also that year, Lefcort’s “Rock Icons” were exhibited at the Griffon Gallery in conjunction with the opening of the Rock-n-Roll Hall of Fame
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum is a museum located on the shore of Lake Erie in downtown Cleveland, Ohio, United States. It is dedicated to archiving the history of some of the best-known and most influential artists, producers, engineers and others who have, in some major way,...
.
In 1996 Lefcort was chosen by the Democratic National Committee
Democratic National Committee
The Democratic National Committee is the principal organization governing the United States Democratic Party on a day to day basis. While it is responsible for overseeing the process of writing a platform every four years, the DNC's central focus is on campaign and political activity in support...
to paint a portrait of the then First Lady
First Lady
First Lady or First Gentlemanis the unofficial title used in some countries for the spouse of an elected head of state.It is not normally used to refer to the spouse or partner of a prime minister; the husband or wife of the British Prime Minister is usually informally referred to as prime...
, Hillary Rodham Clinton
Hillary Rodham Clinton
Hillary Diane Rodham Clinton is the 67th United States Secretary of State, serving in the administration of President Barack Obama. She was a United States Senator for New York from 2001 to 2009. As the wife of the 42nd President of the United States, Bill Clinton, she was the First Lady of the...
. This portrait was presented to Clinton during the “When Women Vote, Women Win” Conference at Florida Atlantic University
Florida Atlantic University
Florida Atlantic University, also referred to as FAU or Florida Atlantic, is a public, coeducational, research university located in , United States. The university has six satellite campuses located in the Florida cities of Dania Beach, Davie, Fort Lauderdale, Jupiter, Port St. Lucie, and in Fort...
.
1997 saw Lefcort paint the 1st in of a series of paintings for National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences
National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences
The National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences, Inc., known variously as The Recording Academy or NARAS, is a U.S. organization of musicians, producers, recording engineers and other recording professionals dedicated to improving the quality of life and cultural condition for music and its...
(The Grammy’s). This commissioned portrait was of the all-time most nominated Grammy artist, with a total of 76 nominations and 26 awards, Quincy Jones
Quincy Jones
Quincy Delightt Jones, Jr. is an American record producer and musician. A conductor, musical arranger, film composer, television producer, and trumpeter. His career spans five decades in the entertainment industry and a record 79 Grammy Award nominations, 27 Grammys, including a Grammy Legend...
. Lefcort went on to paint the recipient of the Humanitarian of the Year award for a number of years, and included such subjects as Sting, Phil Collins
Phil Collins
Philip David Charles "Phil" Collins, LVO is an English singer-songwriter, drummer, pianist and actor best known as a drummer and vocalist for British progressive rock group Genesis and as a solo artist....
, Tony Bennett
Tony Bennett
Tony Bennett is an American singer of popular music, standards, show tunes, and jazz....
, Natalie Cole
Natalie Cole
Natalie Maria Cole , is an American singer, songwriter and performer. The daughter of jazz legend Nat King Cole, Cole rode to musical success in the mid-1970s as an R&B artist with the hits "This Will Be ", "Inseparable" and "Our Love"...
, Gloria Estefan
Gloria Estefan
Gloria María Milagrosa Fajardo García de Estefan; known professionally as Gloria Estefan is a Cuban-born American singer, songwriter, and actress. Known as the "Queen Of Latin Pop", she is in the top 100 best selling music artists with over 100 million albums sold worldwide, 31.5 million of those...
, Bonnie Raitt
Bonnie Raitt
Bonnie Lynn Raitt is an American blues singer-songwriter and a renowned slide guitar player. During the 1970s, Raitt released a series of acclaimed roots-influenced albums which incorporated elements of blues, rock, folk and country, but she is perhaps best known for her more commercially...
, David Crosby
David Crosby
David Van Cortlandt Crosby is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter. In addition to his solo career, he was a founding member of three bands: The Byrds, Crosby, Stills & Nash , and CPR...
, and Stevie Wonder
Stevie Wonder
Stevland Hardaway Morris , better known by his stage name Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and activist...
.
Although approached by The Walt Disney Company to interpret their characters in her “pop portrait style” in 1995, it was not until 1998 the Lefcort made her 1st appearance with Disney. In 1999 Allison was featured at an exhibition of interpretive art with Disney characters as the focus of interpretation. This also marked the release of Lefcort’s first limited edition
Special edition
The terms special edition, limited edition and variants such as deluxe edition, collector's edition and others, are used as a marketing incentive for various kinds of products, originally published products related to the arts, such as books, prints or recorded music and films, but now including...
entitled “Tinker-bell”. Lefcort attended the opening of this exhibition and was the focus of a guest artist event in Disneyland, at the Disneyland Gallery. Lefcort went on to interpret Disney characters for a number of special events including the Disneyana Conventions (1999–2001).
In 2001 Lefcort returned to the Grammy’s to paint Luciano Pavarotti
Luciano Pavarotti
right|thumb|Luciano Pavarotti performing at the opening of the Constantine Palace in [[Strelna]], 31 May 2003. The concert was part of the celebrations for the 300th anniversary of [[St...
. Lefcort remembers the short time spent with Pavarotti as one of warmth can compassion. Lefcort was in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
at the time of his passing in September 2007.
By 2002 critics began to take notice of Lefcort’s flamboyant style
Flamboyant
Flamboyant is the name given to a florid style of late Gothic architecture in vogue in France from the 14th to the early 16th century, a version of which spread to Spain and Portugal during the 15th century; the equivalent stylistic period in English architecture is called the Decorated Style, and...
of “bold imagery and bright colors”. Lefcort was commissioned by Playboy Enterprises
Playboy Enterprises
Playboy Enterprises, Inc. is a privately held global media and lifestyle company founded by Hugh Marston Hefner to manage the Playboy magazine empire. Its programming and content are available worldwide on television networks, Websites, mobile platforms and radio...
to paint a portrait of Tom Petty
Tom Petty
Thomas Earl "Tom" Petty is an American singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. He is the frontman of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and was a founding member of the late 1980s supergroup Traveling Wilburys and Mudcrutch. He has also performed under the pseudonyms of Charlie T...
for an upcoming article about the American singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
. This portrait was used in the December 2002 issue of Playboy
Playboy
Playboy is an American men's magazine that features photographs of nude women as well as journalism and fiction. It was founded in Chicago in 1953 by Hugh Hefner and his associates, and funded in part by a $1,000 loan from Hefner's mother. The magazine has grown into Playboy Enterprises, Inc., with...
, and featured (then Marilyn Manson
Marilyn Manson
Marilyn Manson may refer to:* Marilyn Manson , an American rock musician* Marilyn Manson , the American rock band led by the singer of the same name...
girlfriend) Dita Von Teese
Dita Von Teese
Dita Von Teese is an American burlesque dancer, model, costume designer, author and actress.-Early life:...
on the cover.
Lefcort’s work with Playboy lead to the creation of Hugh Hefner
Hugh Hefner
Hugh Marston "Hef" Hefner is an American magazine publisher, founder and Chief Creative Officer of Playboy Enterprises.-Early life:...
’s official portrait, painted in 1993. This portrait was 1st used in the centerfold photo shoot for the 1993 Playmate of the Year Christina Santiago. Since then the painting has been used a number of times for both print and film shoots including such shows as The Girls Next Door
The Girls Next Door
The Girls Next Door, also known as The Girls of the Playboy Mansion, is an American reality television series broadcast on the E! cable television network...
, and The Apprentice
The Apprentice (U.S. TV series)
The Apprentice is an American reality television show hosted by real estate magnate, businessman and television personality Donald Trump, created by Mark Burnett and broadcast on NBC...
. Lefcort’s works became the focus of 10th episode of season 3 entitled “Hef’s Vegas Birthday”, which originally aired May 20, 2007. Before he became the world's most recognized publisher, Hef aspired to be an artist, even took art classes at the Chicago Art Institute
Art Institute of Chicago
The School of the Art Institute of Chicago is one of America's largest accredited independent schools of art and design, located in the Loop in Chicago, Illinois. It is associated with the museum of the same name, and "The Art Institute of Chicago" or "Chicago Art Institute" often refers to either...
. His appreciation of the arts has guided him to put together one the premiere private collections of art in the United States. On Playboy.com
Playboy Online
Playboy Online is the internet business segment of Playboy Enterprises. It produces some original content that differs from print editions of the publications produced by Playboy Publishing, one of the three business segments of Playboy Enterpises...
Allison Lefcort is listed as one of his favorite artists.
Lefcort’s works were included in an exhibition and sale at Christie's
Christie's
Christie's is an art business and a fine arts auction house.- History :The official company literature states that founder James Christie conducted the first sale in London, England, on 5 December 1766, and the earliest auction catalogue the company retains is from December 1766...
New York: Wednesday, February 5, 2003. In addition to Lefcort the “House Sale” featured the works by Corrado Giaquinto
Corrado Giaquinto
Corrado Giaquinto was an Italian Rococo painter.-Early training and move to Rome:He was born in Molfetta. As a boy he apprenticed with a modest local painter Saverio Porta, , escaping the religious career his parents had intended for him...
, and Lorenzo Sabatini
Lorenzo Sabatini
Lorenzo Sabatini was an Italian painter of the Mannerist period from Bologna.A friend of Orazio Sammachini, he traveled to Florence to work with the studio of Giorgio Vasari by the early 1560-65. He was elected member of the Florentine Academy...
. This auction marks the first sale of Lefcort’s work by a major auction house.
Lefcort’s portrait of Hussein bin Talal
Hussein of Jordan
Hussein bin Talal was the third King of Jordan from the abdication of his father, King Talal, in 1952, until his death. Hussein's rule extended through the Cold War and four decades of Arab-Israeli conflict...
, The King of Jordan was selected as part of an exhibition of works known as the “Peace Makers”. In 2004 this portrait served as the backdrop for the famous Today show interview of Queen Noor, conducted by Katie Couric
Katie Couric
Katherine Anne "Katie" Couric is an American journalist and author. She serves as Special Correspondent for ABC News, contributing to ABC World News, Nightline, 20/20, Good Morning America, This Week and primetime news specials...
.
Lefcort’s exposure in both film and print led to a series of 5 solo exhibitions in Japan from 2004 to 2007. These exhibitions included iconic Rock-n-Roll
Rock and roll
Rock and roll is a genre of popular music that originated and evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s, primarily from a combination of African American blues, country, jazz, and gospel music...
images, Hollywood Icons, and her interpretive work for The Walt Disney Company.
In 2006 Lefcort was chosen to create a “pop portrait” for the release of Jerry Bruckheimer’s Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest is a 2006 adventure fantasy film and the second film of the Pirates of the Caribbean series, following Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl . It was directed by Gore Verbinski, written by Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio, and produced by...
. This portrait featured Johnny Depp
Johnny Depp
John Christopher "Johnny" Depp II is an American actor, producer and musician. He has won the Golden Globe Award and Screen Actors Guild award for Best Actor. Depp rose to prominence on the 1980s television series 21 Jump Street, becoming a teen idol...
in his portrayal of Captain Jack Sparrow
Captain Jack Sparrow
Jack Sparrow is a fictional character and the central protagonist in the Pirates of the Caribbean film series created by screenwriters Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio, portrayed by Johnny Depp. He is first introduced in the film Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl...
. Later that year Lefcort created a portrait of Rod Stewart
Rod Stewart
Roderick David "Rod" Stewart, CBE is a British singer-songwriter and musician, born and raised in North London, England and currently residing in Epping. He is of Scottish and English ancestry....
at the Hard Rock Live in Hollywood, FL.
Lefcort’s work was recently exhibited at the D23 Expo in Anaheim, CA. This 4 day event feature appearance by Nicolas Cage
Nicolas Cage
Nicolas Cage is an American actor, producer and director, having appeared in over 60 films including Raising Arizona , The Rock , Face/Off , Gone in 60 Seconds , Adaptation , National Treasure , Ghost Rider , Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans , and...
, John Travolta
John Travolta
John Joseph Travolta is an American actor, dancer and singer. Travolta first became known in the 1970s, after appearing on the television series Welcome Back, Kotter and starring in the box office successes Saturday Night Fever and Grease...
, Johnny Depp, and Miley Cyrus
Miley Cyrus
Miley Ray Cyrus is an American actress and pop singer-songwriter. She achieved wide fame for her role as Miley Stewart/Hannah Montana on the Disney Channel sitcom Hannah Montana....
.
Style
Lefcort has come a long way since since here 1st portrait of Dan Marino in 1980. Nowadays, her portraits are easily recognizable due to the monochromatic scheme of black/white/grey for the foreground, and bright bold colors of the background. Lefcort exclusively uses acrylic paint
Acrylic paint
Acrylic paint is fast drying paint containing pigment suspension in acrylic polymer emulsion. Acrylic paints can be diluted with water, but become water-resistant when dry...
s on paper, wood, or canvas to create her pop art
Pop art
Pop art is an art movement that emerged in the mid 1950s in Britain and in the late 1950s in the United States. Pop art challenged tradition by asserting that an artist's use of the mass-produced visual commodities of popular culture is contiguous with the perspective of fine art...
portraits. Lefcort’s design and drafting of the portrait often takes longer than the actual physical painting of the work. On Lefcort’s website she states “ That boldness and simplicity are the keys to unlocking the imagery.”
Although primarily known for her “pop portraits”, Lefcort is also recognized for her “Love Alli” series, featuring a collection of hearts created in Oil pastels. These hearts, originally produced as a gift for her mother have been reproduced in a number of limited editions including “Seasons of Love”, “Love Always” & “Let Me Count the Ways”.
Influences
In her own words, Lefcort explains her ‘inspiration of celebrity.’”A bit of a star-gazer,”..."my art has been greatly influenced by the boldness of Andy Warhol
Andy Warhol
Andrew Warhola , known as Andy Warhol, was an American painter, printmaker, and filmmaker who was a leading figure in the visual art movement known as pop art...
and simplicity of Keith Haring
Keith Haring
Keith Haring was an artist and social activist whose work responded to the New York City street culture of the 1980s.-Early life:...
. That boldness and simplicity are the keys to unlocking the imagery. The vibrant colors of the background set the tone, as the shapes and shadows bring the portrayal to life."