Few artists have contributed so much to shaping our nostalgic memories of the late 70’s. Using pencil, pastel and airbrush on photographic portraits, Bernstein made celebrities of the era such as Madonna, Sylvester Stallone or Mick Jagger, as cool, young and sexy as we remember them. From the 7th of August, FIG’s Summer Show 2014 will revisit this key figure and other world leading fashion illustrators who have mixed up the commercial and aesthetic art scene.

Interview Magazine covers

Few artists have contributed so much to shaping our nostalgic memories of the late 70’s. Using pencil, pastel and airbrush on photographic portraits, Bernstein made era celebrities such as Madonna, Sylvester Stallone or Mick Jagger, as cool, young and sexy as we remember them. From the 7th of August, the FIG’s Summer Show 2014 will revisit this key figure and other world leading fashion illustrators who have mixed up the commercial and aesthetic art scene.

Best known for his amazing cover arts for Andy Warhol’s Interview magazine, Bernsein has been described as the great pop artist manqué of his era. In spite of this, his professional career was not what you would call prosperous. Whilst he hung out with the Studio 54, rode in limos and gave many personalities their 15 minutes of fame, other days he couldn’t even afford rent or food…a prime example of the challenges of being an artist in that world – needing the money but selling your soul?

Bernstein made close to 120 actual portrait painting covers for Interview, but he actually had to earn his right to credit them. After a long legal and emotional struggle with the Warhol state, he ultimately won this fight.

The FIG’s Summer Show 2014 includes some brilliant examples of Bernsein’s work, such as:

Aretha Franklin 650

(C) Richard Bernstein. Aretha Franklin (Interview Maquette), December 1986

Stevie-Wonder 650

(C) Richard Bernstein. Stevie Wonder (Interview Maquette), June 1986

Mick Jagger 650

(C) Richard Bernstein. Mick Jagger (Interview Maquette), February 1985

 

The FIG’s Summer Show 2014 also presents the opportunity for fashion illustration fans to see paintings, drawings and prints by other artists such as Peter Turner or Clym Evernden.

Find out more at http://www.fashionillustrationgallery.com

 

FIG’s Summer Show 2014

Dates: August 7th – August 23rd 2014

Place: FIG at The Mayor Gallery (21 Cork Street. London W1S 3LZ)

Open to the Public: Thursday 7th August – Saturday 23rd August 2014. 11am – 6pm (Closed Sunday 10th & 17th)