Know the Artist: Tamara de Lempicka

Preceded by her glamorous portraits and bohemian, champagne-swilling reputation, Tamara de Lempicka, a.k.a. “The Baroness with a Brush,” brought Art Deco to the canvas.
EDIT: Tamara de Lempicka's birth name was Tamara Rosalia Gurwik-Gorska.
For more information about Lempicka, visit tamaradelempickaestate.com.
Several Circles is comprised of two loved up art professionals (and their cat, Jimmy) living and working in New York. Here, we tell the stories of extraordinary artists from history and the contemporary day. Written and hosted by Rachel, content and copywriter at the Whitney Museum of American Art in NYC. Produced by Jason, a professional art installer.
#tamaradelempicka #tamaralempicka

[@MrArchivist1]

"Ravenous promiscuity" is a brilliant choice of words. The entire piece is exceedingly well-written, and I had to go back a few times to make sure I caught everything!

[@jacobdiddens]

Thank you for taking the time and energy to make these works! Know that they are greatly appreciated.

[@TheArtTourist]

Thank you for saying that! We really appreciate the encouragement :)

[@johnmichael9713]

Her art still has a strikingly modern look to this day. Makes me think of A Scanner Darkly.

[@chrisdonovan8795]

I don't study art, but if you were to show me these paintings with no other information, I would assume that they were made today. They're so modern, clear, and stylish.

[@TheArtTourist]

Totally! It’s interesting that her work was so ‘of the times’ and yet it’s aged really well. Thank you for watching!

[@jennyj4111]

I love these videos, such an engaging and articulate host. I can't wait to see this channel blow up.

[@TheArtTourist]

Thank you so much for the kind words! Here’s hoping🤞

[@marisadelempicka2529]

Thank you for creating this video! You are very articulate and summarized Tamara's art and legacy well. There are many truths and myths about Tamara de Lempicka. For one, her real name was Tamara Rosalia Gurwik-Gorska. Not Maria. Her father was Jewish, so definitely no Maria in Tamara's name. Also the relationship with her only daughter Kizette, (my grandmother) was tumultuous but ultimately loving. If you want to know more, please visit our website: www.tamaradelempickaestate.com for the latest news on this amazing artist.

[@TheArtTourist]

Wow! Thank you so much for your comment! There’s lots of conflicting information out there so you’re the most reputable source we could have asked for :) I’ll post an edit to her birth name in the video’s description as well as the link to her estate’s website. Your great grandmother was a truly incredible artist!

[@marisadelempicka2529]

@@TheArtTourist Thanks!!! Yes. She truly was a fascinating artist that created her own unique style. She was a strong and intriguing woman. Extremely smart. She had no agent, she represented herself very successfully.

[@grzegorzmurzynowski9764]

How did she actually write her chosen name, was it with Polish "Ł" (L-slash) or the standard Latin "L", and how did she pronounce it / expected to be pronounced?

[@bobbyantonelli7978]

No wonder Madonna is a huge fan of Tamara . She uses her style with huge poster signs in her “ Open Your Heart”video. Love her work

[@mawafellowhuman]

So great to see so many of Lempicka’s work and get to know her history. Thank you!

[@TheArtTourist]

She was such a fascinating (and glamorous!) character! So glad you enjoyed the vid :)

[@KirbyMArt]

I love how incredibly informative and condense these videos are. Super easy to spend a few minutes to learn a lot about the greatest of the great.

[@TheArtTourist]

That’s so lovely to hear, thank you! Exactly what we’re aiming for :) Thanks for watching!

[@Retroscoop]

Important to notice: the "Art Deco" label was not used by those 1920's artists themselves, even if there had been an exhibition in Paris in 1925 about "Arts Décoratifs". The shortened "Art Deco" label was only introduced in the 1970's and quickly spread.

[@josharendse5809]

Im so glad that this channel exists, really love what you guys are doing for Art! Thank you for your insights and hard work, keep it up! :)

[@TheArtTourist]

Thank you for the kind words! So glad to hear you’re enjoying the content. Really appreciate you watching!

[@kingspaz111]

I didn't know about her, what a great artist!

[@rutviksbhandge2139]

Great video as always!!

[@TheArtTourist]

Thank you!!

[@garyneville1141]

That was lovely thanks 😊

[@jimbrittain402]

So THAT's who that was! A local restaurant used to have a few of these. She ROCKS! (As do you, of course.)

[@robertmather6152]

Another excellent presentation - your hard work is most appreciated.

[@TheArtTourist]

Thank you!!

[@piotrzagroba5301]

The video was great, but as a Pole, every time you pronounced her last name, I winced. No one ever gets that in Polish last names with endings -cki, -cka, the "c" is not silent, it makes a "ts" sound. Łempicka sounds like "wempeetska". Hearing "lempika" breaks my heart a little.

[@jc3drums916]

Apparently she dropped the Ł for L in her surname, so who knows, maybe she just went with the mispronunciation within her lifetime. I would say it's better to go with what most people recognize, unfortunate as that is. I mean, think about how many East Asian surnames are completely butchered in other languages, but we all just accept it and even use the mispronunciations ourselves when speaking in other languages, because correcting everyone is tedious, possibly confusing, and ultimately futile. Łempicki should retain the original Polish pronunciation though, as any mispronunciation is more likely based on guesswork and not convention, not to mention it retains the original Polish spelling.

[@defygravityXD]

Yeah I got 18 seconds in and said “nooooo!” out loud at this.

[@victoriyak2758]

i feel you bro, my polish mom‘s name isnt even hard to pronounce but it does have a „rz“ sound. people here in germany have been butchering her name beyond recognition for as long as i can remember, sometimes calling her a completely different name that just starts with the same initial. i will never not cringe😂

[@MaDi11087]

Tak samo ja...hhh...Jaka Lempika , do groma...

[@mustafabaygun6676]

Great presentation and valuable informations . Thank you 🙏

[@TheArtTourist]

Thank you for watching!

[@CaroCallas]

Thank you for this! Really well researched and clear and understandable spoken! More if this !

[@TheArtTourist]

Thank you so much! More to come :)

[@salmanalkhaledi6473]

You guys are awesome! I followed you from reddit. Such fun entertainment!!

[@TheArtTourist]

Thank you!! And Jimmy IS sexy isn’t he!

[@olafvivas1955]

This is my favorite from all on your channel

[@TheArtTourist]

Thanks! It’s one of our favorites as well

[@charlottepembroke5446]

I chuckled when you said 'Pausing only for essentials like champagne' Oh, me too!!

[@AKaDuaTufUrBiu]

Recently found your channel when searching for more art related content & I have to say, I am completely enthralled. These videos are so perfectly done & as the tired, but true, expression goes, "Madam, I'd listen to you read the phone book..." Very engaging, well done, & smooth as silk.

[@TheArtTourist]

Thank you!! So glad to hear you’re enjoying the vids :)

[@saramyles4750]

I loved this video

[@Mike-bc9yt]

Terrific overview - thank you!

[@TheArtTourist]

Thank you for watching!

[@kathyalcalde3025]

Great video, lots of interesting facts, keep up the good work! :)

[@TheArtTourist]

Thank you so much!

[@sagnikadak1498]

I've already seen 90% of your uploaded videos. I'm studying on their artworks from social platforms, KZbin, ebooks, books, etc. And I got your channel. Thank you very much mam 😇 for spending time and energy to make these videos. This channel deserves more rhan 1 lac subscribers. Hope it will be.🌸💝

[@TheArtTourist]

Awesome! Thank you so much for watching!

[@sagnikadak1498]

@@TheArtTourist my pleasure 🌸 mam. One small request from my side... Please make a video on " zdzislaw beksinski".

[@TheArtTourist]

Absolutely! He’s already on the list :)

[@sagnikadak1498]

@@TheArtTourist Happy to listen it, 😊🌸mam.

[@mariabrailsford534]

Thank you for this presentation. The new musical led me to look into who she was.

[@deborahjones5289]

I love how she is a queer artist back in the 1920’s. I also love her full length portraits of butch women, she was so ahead of her time.

[@roelantverhoeven371]

great artist! i'm a huge fan of art deco, sadly underestimated nowadays

[@ikawinner960]

Amazing

[@lacey3880]

Thanks for the images, u have provided, I had some saved, (on the fone) But they r gone,.., Let's print...x Thank you, I'm in awe with her art...x Can u do , Klimt, also...,xx

[@capneyeball575]

I love her art. Thanks for this snapshot. I’m just discovering your channel and it’s brilliant. Please snuggle your cat from me.

[@TheArtTourist]

Thank you!! Will do 😺

[@kazechan1o1]

OOoh you look beautfiUl!

[@TheArtTourist]

Thank you!!

[@Toogoodtobetrue458]

I like her style

[@stephanerichard6267]

nice. I didn't know her at all .

[@wonderrob3225]

I love the way you talk with your hands and your sparkling eyes. Are you the writer as well as the presenter ? Or does Jason do the writing?

[@TheArtTourist]

Thank you! Yes, I am the writer.

[@frizzzzzzal]

This art nerd is glamorous af

[@UnathiGX]

The "Weight of her stare"!

[@TheArtTourist]

She was an intense lady!

[@lacey3880]

I'm so impressed, with ur -, Review of the artis' life, I wish u the best with ur channel, Can u do " glimt

[@43Rhein10]

(Lempicka is pronounced something like this: > LEM-P'IZKA < )

[@TheArtTourist]

Thanks! We’re aware, we usually defer to how American/British institutions pronounce artists’ names as it’s more familiar to our primarily American/British audience, but going forward we’ll nod to the original pronunciation in our intros.

[@abarkhin]

As I understand it, the Rolls-Royce Phantom I Jonckheere Aerodynamic Coupe was built in 1934, not 1925.

[@TheArtTourist]

Based on our research, both dates are correct. The Rolls was manufactured in ‘25 and then heavily modified into the famous Jonckheere Coupe in ‘34/‘35. We went with 1925 for simplicity’s sake. Thanks for watching!

[@lacey3880]

U remind me of, "mr finkle",... & the British museum .., It the persona...!!?

[@Egill2011]

Are you sure you pronounce her surname correctly? -c- in Polish sounds like [-ts-]. For example -z- in German "schwarz".

[@guardianangel6926]

Lempicka was the onlyone who took it to the canvas??? LOL

[@MaDi11087]

She's name not LempiKa, she is Lempitska or Lempitzka on yours language. She is from Poland

[@defygravityXD]

Lempicka = “wem-peet-skah”

[@salmanalkhaledi6473]

And the cat is SO SEXY.

[@oktawiandzikowski4258]

Great video and if you like her art, please pay Tamara your respect by pronouncing her name correctly: it's [lempitzka] and not [lempika]. Cheers!

[@garywilloughby6893]

Sadly Art changed, her style was not in vogue. Though she tried to change her paintings were not successful.

[@symoniaczek]

You are pronouncing her last name wrong. My ears were bleeding each time

[@TheArtTourist]

Oh my, that’s quite a serious reaction. It’s the way American and British institutions tend to pronounce her name.

[@BINKYism]

I hear you! My ears also hurt + even when Guernavaca was spoken

[@ETIENNE8100]

She didn’t own a Bugatti

[@myandrew1659]

You are very beautiful 🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰