Tamara de Lempicka

A landmark retrospective on the Art Deco painter exploring her intersectional identities Tamara de Lempicka (18941980), the Baroness with a Brush, is often cast as one of Art Decos most celebrated artists, though her work transcends categorization, incorporating elements of Cubism and Neoclassicism in a distinctive, sensuous blend of form and function. Lempickas paintings, including a self-portrait as the driver of a sleek green Bugatti, often depict dazzling, self-assured women, exuding elegance and transgressive sexuality while combining the modern with the classical. This gorgeous survey presents the full arc of Lempickas career in the context of her life and her evolving identity, including her Polish and Russian origins, her marriages and other relationships, and her time in France, Italy, and the United States. This book unfolds chronologically through three sections that mark the stages of the artists life and the evolution of her artistic style, with particular focus on her Jewish heritage, her expression of gender, and her sexuality. Published in association with the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco Exhibition Schedule: de Young Museum, San Francisco (October 12, 2024February 9, 2025) The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston (March 9May 26, 2025)