Tamara de Lempicka

 Any day that you venture into Annie's Music you find not only the answers to your musical needs, but you might get a great experience and introduction to the unique world of one of the most iconic female artists is history. Decorating the walls of the store are posters from exhibitions of the iconic Art Deco artist Tamara de Lempicka. A poster of Portrait of Marjorie Ferry from the 2006 exhibition in Milan adorns the wall at her store. In 2018, the original painting, previously owned by fashion designer Wolfgang Joop, sold for almost $22M USD.

Who was Tamara de Lempicka? Anne can answer that question. After 29 years of studying the artist, she has written a comprehensive and unique book about the artist who is now the third most expensive female painter in history. Anne’s recently released book, Tamara de Lempicka. Behind the Scenes sheds a new light on one of the most important female artists of the 20th century. Tamara’s great granddaughter, Marisa de Lempicka, president of the Tamara de Lempicka Estate LLC and a good friend of Anne and her husband Richard says “Tamara de Lempicka is the most well-known, unknown artist”. Everyone knows her paintings which reverberate the art deco era, giving her the title of Queen of Art Deco, but few know who she is or her story.

Tamara fought her way to the top to become a successful and in demand artist in the 1920’s and 1930’s in Paris. As a female artist and the family breadwinner in a world dominated by men, she became the symbol of the independent woman of the 20th century. An artist, fashionista, and international celebrity, she defied the odds with talent, determination, and confidence that inspired other women then, and in the future. Tamara’s great granddaughter, Marisa de Lempicka, president of the Tamara de Lempicka Estate LLC, a good friend of Anne and her husband Richard says, “Tamara de Lempicka is the most known, unknown artist”. Everyone recognizes her paintings which reverberate the art deco era, giving her the title of Queen of Art Deco, but no one knows who she is or her story.

Anne's new book, Tamara de Lempicka. Behind the Scenes takes a completely fresh and new approach to shedding light on this iconic female artist and legend. Anne believes “Tamara broke the glass ceiling before anyone knew there was a glass ceiling”. Not only a passionate historian and archivist, she and her husband Richard were acknowledged in Forbes Poland in 2022 as one of Tamara de Lempicka’s greatest collectors. She not only recognizes Tamara’s art and place in history, but her destiny in the world on many platforms. Tamara’s past has been documented in biographies, photographic picture books, and featured in fictional books based on her life. Countless exhibition catalogues, and an unprecedented Catalogue Raisonné by renowned Parisian gallerist and expert Alain Blondel explore her repertoire of over 500 paintings and 200 drawings. Anne’s new book transcends the previous stereotypes of art books. It delves into Tamara’s art, life, the history behind her paintings, her legacy and future as she continues to influence the world. It uncovers the very circumstances that created each canvas, introduces the charismatic subjects that inhabit them, and illuminates the profound rapport they shared with the artist herself. Beyond this, Paddy traces the journey of these artworks, revealing their destinies after leaving Lempicka's studio, and how they found their way in and out of the collections of Barbra Streisand, Wolfgang Joop, Madonna, Jack Nicholson, Sir Time Rice and more. Currently Tamara’s journey continues. Following three successful exhibitions in Poland in 2022-2023 attracting over 400,000 people, three international documentaries are in production.

The highly anticipated musical LEMPICKA, directed by Tony award winning director, Rachel Chavkin, and starring Eden Espinosa as Tamara de Lempicka, debuted on Broadway in April 2024. A full-length feature movie is already scripted, and a mini-series is planned. The documentary "Tamara de Lempicka & the Art of Suvival" written, produced and directed by Julie Rubio debuted at the Mill Valley Fil Festival, with subsequent runs at the Roxie Theatre in San Francisco. It has also been selected for the 2025 Sand Diego Jewish Film Fetival scheduled for February of 2025.  A Polish documentary "Tamara de Lempicka:Traces" is scheduled to be released in 2025. The first ever major retrospective in the US opened in San Francisco in the October 12, 2024, extending to Houston in March of 2025. Anne Is involved in all of these projects and works closely with Tamara’s granddaughter Victoria de Lempicka and great granddaughter Marisa de Lempicka, President of the Estate to promote “everything Tamara”.

Tamara de Lempicka. Behind the Scenes (also available in Polish) was introduced this year at the Frankfurt Germany and Krakow Poland Book Fairs. It is available on Amazon in 10 countries, select museums and bookstores. Author signed copies are available at Annie’s Music in Rochester Hills and other publicized book signing events.

Tamara de Lempicka. Behind the Scenes/Tamara Łempicka. Za Kulisami, Anne Paddy, BoSz Publishing House, 2023, Hardcover, 328 pages, 114 essays, 220 B&W and color photographs. Back cover comments by Marisa de Lempicka and Victoria de Lempicka. It has recently been included as a reference in the Bibliography of De Lempicka. Art, the new deluxe luxury album also published by BoSz Publishing House.