Blackglama (Judy Garland) From Ads, 1985; Screenprint in colors on Lenox Museum Board; Signed Andy Warhol and numbered 184/190 in pencil lower left; Published by Ronald Feldman Fine Arts, Inc., NY; Size - Sheet 38" x 38", Frame 45 1/2" x 45 1/2"; Framed floated on a black linen mat, white gold wood exterior frame, and plexiglass; Catalog Raisonne: Feldman/Schellmann: II.351.
Judy Garland (Frances Ethel Gumm) is an American Icon, she was an acclaimed singer, stage performer, and actress; and she is most known for her performance in The Wizard of Oz, 1939 and in particular her performance of the song Over the Rainbow, which won an Academy Award. She appeared in over two dozen films, nine with Mickey Rooney that were referred to as "backyard musicals." The combination of Garland and Rooney was a hit with the public and the two were sent by the MGM studio on an across the country tour culminating with multiple performances by the duo. Judy Garland had two daughters, Lorna Luft and Liza Minnelli and one son Joey Luft. Liza Minnelli went on to become a star in her own right, she was a singer, dancer, actress, and stage performer. She was also a friend of Warhol, appearing with him along with Halston and Bianca Jagger at the famed Studio 54 New York nightclub.
Andy Warhol was always drawn to the golden age of film, and in particular to the stars of the silver screen. He created portraits of some of the most important stars of his time including Marilyn Monroe, Elizabeth Taylor, Troy Donahue, and Lana Turner. In 1978 Warhol created canvas portraits of Liza Minnelli and in 1979, Warhol created large canvas portraits of Judy Garland.
Close up of the signature and the number
Warhol had gotten his start in the art world by becoming a commercial advertising artist. This early career would always influence his art and in 1985 Warhol created a series of ten works that he called Ads. It is interesting to note that Warhol chose three famous actors James Dean, Ronald Reagan, and Judy Garland to feature in this suite. The ten prints are:
Rebel Without a Cause (James Dean) – based on the Japanese poster version of the movie
The New Spirit (Donald Duck) – based on an original Donald Duck drawing
Mobil – based on Mobil Oil Corporation trademark logo
Volkswagen – based on an advertisement by Volkswagen of America
Van Heusen – based on advertisement by Van Heusen featuring the actor at the time, Ronald Reagan
Apple –advertisement for Macintosh computers featuring the Apple logo
Paramount – original version of Paramount logo
Blackglama (Judy Garland) – advertisement for Blackglama Furs featuring Judy Garland
Life Savers – based on Lifesavers advertisement
Chanel – Chanel perfume bottle image trademarked by Chanel, Inc.
The Great Lakes Mink Association (GLMA) was formed in 1941 by mink breeders in the Great Lakes region of the United States who had bred a black-furred mink which they characterize as "the richest, deepest, most lustrous dark mink with the lightest, most flexible leather." GLMA then trademarked it as Blackglama and began a long-running advertising campaign with the tagline being "What becomes a legend most?" Blackglama featured a series of very famous celebrities modeling their furs including in 1968, Judy Garland. Warhol must have not only adored the glamorous image of Judy Garland in a black fur coat but also the tag line "What becomes a legend most?;" because he included it in the final completed artwork.
Blackglama original ad and source material © Blackglama
Framed Blackglama (Judy Garland) using a white gold Deco wood frame.
