Described by one of her earliest collectors as the “first pop star of the century,” Tamara de Lempicka created colorful paintings that radiate with Art Deco's signature blend of elegance and modernity.
Born in Poland at the turn of the 20th century, Lempicka was forced to flee to France in 1918 after the beginning of the Russian Revolution. During a visit to Italy in her youth, she became enraptured by the Italian Old Masters. Inspired by this formative experience, Lempicka enrolled in Académie de la Grande Chaumière in Paris to take up painting.
Lempicka studied under famed avant-garde artists Maurice Denis and André Lhote, who introduced her to Cubism, and she began exhibiting at the Parisian salons as early as 1922. Lempicka became a fixture in Parisian high society, spending much of her time hosting wealthy elites in her atelier on Rue Méchain.
Exceptional floral still-lifes by Lempicka epitomize the artist's talent for capturing sensual beauty, no matter her chosen subject or style. During the early 1960s, works such as Le bouquet de lilas (Bouquet of Lilacs) show how she masterfully used color and texture to create a remarkable sense of depth in her still-life paintings. Ever the adventurer, Lempicka began exploring new painting techniques even at this mature stage of her career. She used her palette knife as one of her main implements, creating new textures and ways of directly applying color in her works.
With a resurgence of appreciation for the Art Deco period, combined with the success of her retrospective at Galerie de Luxembourg in 1971, Lempicka’s work has achieved remarkable acclaim in recent decades. Much of her work resides in museums worldwide, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Musée des Beaux-Arts du Havre, and the National Museum Warsaw, among others.
Alain Blondel, the esteemed French author who compiled the artist’s catalogue raisonné, wrote fondly of Lempicka’s uniqueness: “Tamara de Lempicka will always continue to defy categorization. Her art and her life destiny do not fit into the usual framework for 20th-century artists. The idea that art could be a profession was foreign to Lempicka. Her life and her painting were too closely intertwined for that.”
Find original Tamara de Lempicka art for sale on 1stDibs.
(Biography provided by M.S. Rau)
Le Turban Orange by Tamara de Lempicka
By Tamara de Lempicka
Located in New Orleans, LA
Tamara De Lempicka 1898-1980 Polish Le turban orange (The Orange Turban) Oil on canvas Wrapped in a spectacular orange headdress, the alluring woman ...
Oil
Raisins et oranges by Tamara de Lempicka
By Tamara de Lempicka
Located in New Orleans, LA
Tamara De Lempicka 1898-1980 Polish Raisins et oranges Signed "Lempicka" (lower right) Oil on canvas This charming still life by Art Deco icon Tamara de Lempicka epitomizes the a...
Oil
$1,350Sale Price|40% Off
H 25 in W 23 in
Post Impressionist Portrait Painting with Antique Frame
By Donald Roy Purdy
Located in Washington, DC
Painting by Donald Purdy (1924 - 2016). Oil on masonite Measures 25"L x 23"W. Work is behind glass and comes with exceptional antique frame. Acquired from the Schoneman Gallery in NY...
Masonite, Oil
$4,950
H 34 in W 42 in D 2 in
“Still Life, 1936” by Katharine "Kitty" Duff Church British Modern Oil Signed
Located in Yardley, PA
“Still Life, 1936” by Katharine "Kitty" Duff Church (British, 1910-1999). This large, early painting by Katherine Church is among her finest canvases of the period. Characterized by its bold color palette, simplified forms, and expressive brushwork, this composition centers around a tabletop adorned with various objects: potted plants, a ceramic dish, bottles, and what appear to be books or papers. The two potted plants provide contrasting elements: on the left, what appears to be a cyclamen with red blossoms and delicate leaves, and on the right, a lush green plant with darker foliage. These plants, painted with loose, textured strokes, add an organic quality to the otherwise structured arrangement. The tabletop is cluttered yet thoughtfully composed, featuring additional objects like a clear, faceted glass bowl, a small bottle, and books or pads in striking red and green. The dynamic use of color blocks and the juxtaposition of shapes (round pots against rectangular books) create a sense of rhythm and harmony. The background is darker and less defined, emphasizing the brightly lit tabletop. Church's brushwork is gestural and modernist, leaning toward abstraction, challenging traditional still life conventions. This painting reflects Church’s interest in balancing everyday objects with bold artistic expression. It conveys both the simplicity and complexity of daily life, transforming an ordinary moment into a vibrant and engaging work of art. This work is oil on canvas and is signed and dated in the lower right. It is housed in its original gessoed frame and retains various labels and inscriptions on the reverse. Size: 28.25 inches tall by 36 inches wide (painting) 34 inches tall by 42 inches wide by 2 inches deep (frame) Provenance: Private collection, NY; Acquired from the above About the artist: Born in Highgate, north London, Katharine Church, known as ‘Kitty’ amongst friends and family, always wanted to paint. She trained at the Royal Academy of Arts between 1930-1933 and at the Slade between 1933 and 1934. In her early years Kitty exhibited regularly at the Royal Academy. Her first solo exhibition was in 1933 at the Wertheim Gallery. Other artists who exhibited there included Christopher Wood, Victor Pasmore and Cedric Morris. Kitty also showed with the New English Art Club, the London Group and between 1937-1947 her work was exhibited at the influential Lefevre Gallery, which supported avant-garde artists such as Henry Moore, Ben Nicholson and Barbara Hepworth. In 1954 the artist was invited to take part in the Figures in their setting exhibition held at the Tate Gallery. Henry Tonks and Philip Wilson Steer had a strong influence on Kitty’s early work, but it was her friendship with Ivon Hitchens that liberated her painting technique. In 1936 Kitty married Anthony West, the son of writers Rebecca West and H.G. Wells. The couple initially lived in London before moving to Quarry Farm, Chicksgrove, Tisbury, near Salisbury, where they brought up their children Caroline and Edmund. There they hosted many of their friends, including the New Zealand painter Frances Hodgkins. Other regular visitors before the War included John and Mywafany Piper, Ralph and Frances Partridge, Noel and Catharine Carrington, Julian Trevelyan and Mary Fedden. For many of those who visited Kitty would organise painting expeditions. After the war Kitty and Anthony separated, with Anthony moving to the United States. Anthony West moved to the United States to work as a journalist for The New Yorker. In the early years after their parting Kitty visited most years with the children. In the 1960s Kitty purchased Sutton House and ran the Hambledon Gallery at Blandford Forum. There she promoted the work of her early art-school friends Mary Fedden and Julian Trevelyan, alongside work by the Pipers, John Craxton...
Canvas, Oil
$2,700
H 16.15 in W 18.51 in
Purple Plums Still Life Painting , Mid-Century Period, Modern Style, Framed
Located in Frederiksberg C, DK
Still life / stilleben by Swedish painter Emil Johan Olsson (1890-1964) depicting a bowl of plums arranged before a bookshelf in a quietly balanced interior. Expressive brushwork, su...
Oil
$28,666
H 5.91 in W 6.89 in
Théo van RYSSELBERGHE (1862-1926) - Young Woman in a Hat, c. 1902
Located in Wien, AT
This exquisite, small-scale oil painting is an exceptional work by the celebrated Belgian Pointillist master, Théo van Rysselberghe (1862-1926), executed circa 1902 during the absolu...
Paper, Oil, Cardboard
$5,618
H 39.38 in W 31.5 in
Adrienne Henczné Deák (1890-1956) - Still Life with Peonies in a Bronze Vase
Located in Wien, AT
A magnificent and luminous oil on canvas depicting a lush, generous bouquet of white, pink, and crimson peonies elegantly arranged in a patinated bronze vase. This high-quality artw...
Canvas, Oil
$6,000
H 13 in W 18.12 in
"Water horses", Irene Lagut, Picasso's lover, Woman Artist, Painting 1940
Located in New York, NY
Irène Lagut (1893-1994) Water horses, 1940s Oil on canvas Artwork: 13 x 18 1/8 in. l 33 x 46 cm Framed: 15 1/3 x 20 1/2 in. l 39 x 52 cm Signed lower right Irène Lagut (1893–1994) w...
Canvas, Oil
$917Sale Price|33% Off
H 28.75 in W 23.63 in
French Fauvist Portrait of Woman in White Dress Catalan Modernist Oil Painting
By Ignasi Mundó
Located in Sitges, Barcelona
Fauvist Portrait of Elegant Woman in White Dress Spanish Modernist Oil Artist: Ignasi Mundó Marcet (1918-2012) Medium: Oil on canvas Dimensions: 73 × 60 cm (28.7 × 23.6 in) Frame: 7...
Canvas, Oil
$1,650
H 24 in W 28 in D 4 in
Vintage Western Cowboy Painting, Encampment Scene, by listed artist , ca 1950’s
By Frederic Burnett
Located in Baltimore, MD
This atmospheric Western scene may be just what a themed room or collection needs. Listed American artist Frederic Burnett is known for his depictions of the American West and this ...
Oil
$17,200
H 17.52 in W 15.56 in
"Tara" - A Captivating South Pacific Portrait by Theo Meier (1908-1982).
By Theo Meier
Located in Wien, AT
Presenting an exceptional 20th-century oil on canvas portrait titled "Tara" by the renowned Swiss artist Theo Meier (1908-1982). Heavily inspired by the legendary Paul Gauguin, Meier...
Oil
“Floral Still Life”
Located in Southampton, NY
Original oil painting on fiberboard of a floral still life by the well known Hungarian/American artist Zelma Baylos. Signed lower left. Circa 1935. Condition is very good. The paint...
Oil, Fiberboard
$895
H 32 in W 24 in D 3 in
Vintage Modernist Still Life of Tulips, American School, Oil on Canvas, 1956
Located in Baltimore, MD
This is not your grandmother’s typical still life painting. But if she was young and hip for her time, maybe it is. Painted on stretched canvas and dated (19)56, it is only signed ...
Oil
$1,376
H 36.23 in W 25.6 in
Pitussi Oil on Canvas Painting, Thoughtful Woman, 92x65 cm, Unsigned
Located in Sitges, Barcelona
Frederic Cabanas (1954) - Pitussi - Oil on canvas Oil measurements 92x65 cm. Without frame. Frederic Cabanas Multifaceted artist, painter, sculptor, musician, photographer, wr...
Canvas, Oil
Sold
H 35.5 in W 14.25 in D 1.5 in
Le bouquet de lilas by Tamara de Lempicka
By Tamara de Lempicka
Located in New Orleans, LA
Tamara De Lempicka 1898-1980 Polish Le bouquet de lilas (Lilac Bouquet) Signed "Lempicka" (lower right) Oil on canvas This exceptional floral still life by Art Deco icon Tamara d...
Oil
Sold
H 25 in W 21.25 in D 2 in
Abstract Painting in Blue and Orange by Tamara De Lempicka
By Tamara de Lempicka
Located in New Orleans, LA
Tamara De Lempicka 1898-1980 Polish Abstract Composition in Blue and Orange Signed “Lempicka” (top left) Oil on canvas “Each of my paintings is a self-portrait.” — Tamara De Lemp...
Canvas, Oil
Sold
H 25 in W 21.25 in D 1.5 in
Abstract Composition in Red and Orange by Tamara De Lempicka
By Tamara de Lempicka
Located in New Orleans, LA
Tamara De Lempicka 1898-1980 Polish Abstract Composition in Red and Orange Signed “1950 Lempicka” (bottom left) Oil on canvas “Each of my paintings is ...
Canvas, Oil
Flora I by Tamara De Lempicka
By Tamara de Lempicka
Located in New Orleans, LA
Tamara De Lempicka 1898-1980 Polish Flora I Signed “Lempicka 1933” (bottom right) Watercolor on paper “Each of my paintings is a self-portrait.” — Tama...
Paper, Watercolor