Marilyn vs Hugh Hefner, 2014. This piece is a stunning representation of two iconic people who had the strongest influence on American sexuality. The image of Marilyn is from a 1949 nude calendar shoot shot by Tom Kelley. She was paid $50 for this, the only paid nude shoot she ever did. In 1953, Hugh Hefner used this image in his inaugural issue of Playboy, which sold 50,000 copies. Surprisingly, Marilyn Monroe and Hugh Hefner never met, but his use of this image put both of their careers on the fast track.
About the artist:
Originally from China, Alex Guofeng Cao is an established photographer now based in New York. He credits photography greats such as Avedon, Weston, and Mapplethorpe for inciting his passion for photography and artistic experimentation.
His preferred medium is black-and-white, saying that it is only the colors of this spectrum that he needs to create his world. With exhibitions in galleries and museums around the world, Cao’s work has quickly resonated within the collecting world.
By juxtaposing two iconic images, Cao encodes greater meaning into familiar images of pop icons and masterworks. Cao has exhibited at prestigious shows such as Art Basel in both Switzerland and Miami Beach; Scope Basel and Scope Miami, ArtHamptons and more. His work has also been featured in prominent publications such as the LA Times, Haute Living, the Boston Herald, Art in America, The Miami Herald, and more.
Ink and oil on canvas + floating frame
Product Category: Contemporary Art>Alex Guofeng Cao
Value Category: $$- $5,000-$15,000
Era Category: 2000-Present
Depth:
