Biography of Elizabeth Peyton
Elizabeth Peyton is without doubt one of today's masters of portraiture. Her small-scale works combine a keen involvement in the popular culture of the late 20th century as well as a connection with the long line of modern artists that lead to the genesis of Pop and contemporary art in general, notably French 19th century painter Édouard Manet. Peyton's choice of subjects knows no bounds, making full use of the intimacy of the portrait genre to create arresting images of fame and youth.
Elizabeth Peyton depicts Kurt Cobain, David Bowie, Liam Gallagher, and Eminem as well as the members of the British royal family and the Kennedys. She spans rock, grunge, Britpop, rap and at the same time paints the likeness of historical figures such as Napoleon or Marie Antoinette. Nicole Kidman and other Hollywood starlets also crop up in her jewel-like canvases, as do the artist’s own friends and intimates. In so doing the artist manages to mine contemporary pop culture in a manner that brings to mind the methods of Andy Warhol and David Hockney.
Born in 1965 in Connecticut, Elizabeth Peyton has had solo shows at numerous major institutions including the New Museum, New York, the Metropolitan Opera, New York, the Royal Academy, London, and the Kunsthalle Baden-Baden. Her work is collected by leading museums including Centre Pompidou, Paris, Museum of Modern Art, New York, Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, and Museum für Gegenwartskunst, Basel, amongst many others. Peyton lives and works between New York and Berlin.
