Woman with Hat. Photoshrink, ink, acrylic, mixed media, computer generated image of Angelica Huston as Georgia O'Keefe on cotton canvas. Acrylic on canvas, artist hand-painted frame. 1549x1219 mm; 61x48 inches. Signed, titled and dated in ink, verso. 1993.
Provenance: acquired directly from the artist, private collection, California (1994).
Richard Bernstein is remembered as the creator of Andy Warhol's Interview Magazine covers and one of the pop art pioneers. He is known for his technicolor portraits of pop icons, including Diana Ross, Debbie Harry, Cher, and, in this case, Quentin Crisp and Anjelica Huston as Georgia O'Keeffe. His larger-than-life works captured the glamour, extravagance, and innovation of the era.
In the early 1980s, Bernstein began experimenting with computer-generated artwork and continued in his practice until his passing in 2002. Woman with Hat is a beautiful example of how Bernstein manipulated photographs of Quentin Crisp and Anjelica Huston to create a final image of Georgia O'Keeffe, one of Bernstein's inspirations. He applied silkscreen onto canvas and used different media such as acrylic, gold leaf, and diamond dust. It is rare that one of his subjects, Quentin Crisp, signed the back of the painting, which is unlike any other painting that he created.
Throughout Bernstein's practice there belies a wit, humor, and aesthetic purpose. His unapologetic approach to art and self-expression made him a legendary figure in the LGBTQ+ community. He pushed the boundaries of expression and challenged social norms at the time, creating vibrant work that celebrated diversity and individuality.
