2024-04-25
The exhibition "Tamara Łempicka - Woman on a Journey" opened to the public at Lublin Castle on 18 March. This is the first monographic presentation in Poland of the works of the world-famous artist, whose works reach record-breaking heights at auctions.
Born in 1898 in Warsaw (or Moscow), Tamara Łempicka can be counted among the most famous figures creating in the art déco style. In the 1940s she was a favourite portraitist of Hollywood stars and the social elite. She created portraits of modern women, driving cars, dressed in trousers, independent. She depicted her models in a sculptural, geometric manner, using intense colours.
The artist's life was marked by constant travel. It is possible that she was born in Moscow, but in her documents she changed her place of birth to Warsaw, where she grew up. She spent the next years of her life in Russia, France, the United States - and died in Mexico.
The exhibition has been organized by the National Museum in Lublin and Villa La Fleur in cooperation with Tamara de Lempicka Estate. It was co-financed by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage. What is very intriguing, the exhibition features not only famous portraits. It also includes still life and abstract works. The whole concept is complemented by objects of everyday use from the period: photographs, a painting palette or jewellery.
During the opening a letter from the Polish Minister of Culture was read out. The most interesting quote seems to be: "It is extremely meaningful that the National Museum in Lublin presents the works of an artist whose life was filled with constant travel and wandering. I hope that communing with Lempicka's art will bring solace to anyone who, like her, is looking for their safe haven today".
Tamara Lempicka's great-granddaughter Marisa de Lempicka donated a limited edition silkscreen print to a charity auction in aid of Ukrainian refugees.