Tamara de Lempicka

Her life changed dramatically with the outbreak of the Russian Revolution. After the imprisonment and subsequent exile of her husband, the Polish lawyer Tadeusz Lempicki, Tamara settled in Paris. It was in the French capital that she consolidated her artistic identity, studying at the Académie de la Grande Chaumière and mingling with the vibrant circle of intellectuals and aristocrats who defined the 1920s.

During the 1920s, Tamara de Lempicka reached the height of her career. Her painting, a synthesis between modern avant-garde and classical refinement, became an emblem of Art Deco. She portrayed Parisian high society in a distinctive style: angular figures, pearly skin tones, and an aura of cosmopolitan luxury. Each portrait seemed like a sculpture polished by light, reflecting the ambition, desire, and independence of the new modern woman.

After her divorce, Tamara moved to the United States, where she fully integrated into New York’s jet set. Her life intertwined with that of artists, patrons, and celebrities, while her work evolved toward more abstract compositions. In the late 1950s, seeking a warmer climate, tranquility, and a more intimate life away from the noise of big cities, she settled in Cuernavaca, Mexico—then a refuge for European intellectuals and artists—where she continued painting until her death in 1980.

Today, Tamara de Lempicka is recognized as one of the most brilliant figures of 20th-century modernism and one of the foremost exponents of Art Deco. Her sensual and architectural style continues to inspire designers, photographers, and contemporary creators.