Elizabeth Peyton

Elizabeth Peyton's entire painting practice is characterized by an intimate and sensitive portrayal. The artist's use of this genre is consistently driven by her desire to analyze the persona of her subjects. Regardless of the depicted subject's class, race, or gender, Elizabeth Peyton meticulously attends to their inner state and the context of their portrayal. 

Biography of Elizabeth Peyton

Born in 1965 in Danbury, Connecticut, Elizabeth Peyton showed an early talent for drawing. Between 1984 and 1987, she pursued studies in fine arts at the School of Visual Arts in New York City. Following her education, Peyton worked various jobs and had just one solo exhibition in six years.

Notably, in 1993, with financial support from Courtney Love, Peyton held a successful exhibition in a room at the Chelsea Hotel, showcasing only her drawings. This exposure caught the attention of gallerists, leading Peyton to exhibit at Gavin Brown's Enterprise in New York starting in 1995, Neugerriemschneider in Berlin starting in 1996, Regen Projects in Los Angeles starting in 1997, and Sadie Coles HQ in London starting in 1998.

Continuing her focus on stylized depictions of celebrities, Elizabeth Peyton's art has often been associated with popular culture. It's no surprise that one of her major influences is the notable painter David Hockney. Peyton has portrayed a range of celebrities in her unpretentious style, from David Bowie and the Gallagher brothers of Oasis to Jarvis Cocker, and Princes William and Harry of The House of Windsor.

Beyond her solo work, Peyton has collaborated with Matthew Barney on a project titled "Blood of Two," and with Jonathan Horowitz on a series of monotypes that explore the themes of plants and flowers as symbols of love and death.

Elizabeth Peyton's works have become integral parts of numerous important collections, ranging from the Centre Pompidou in Paris to the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York and the Kunstmuseum in Basel. In 2006, Peyton received the 14th Annual Larry Aldrich Award, recognizing her significant impact on visual culture through her work.

The following year, in 2007, she was honored with amfAR's Award of Excellence for Artistic Contributions to the Fight Against AIDS. Also, this year marks her debut exhibition in Japan at the Hara Museum of Contemporary Art in Tokyo, where she showcased her works for the first time in the country.

Elizabeth Peyton's Art Style

Elizabeth Peyton's works have frequently been likened to fashion illustrations, yet she has also been lauded for reviving the tradition of portrait painting. This unique combination led professionals to describe her as a trailblazer of new Realism. Her impressive body of work highlights her significant contribution to revitalizing a forgotten stylistic approach and offers a fresh perspective on the study of popular culture.

Elizabeth Peyton's primary technique is oil painting, although she also incorporates watercolor, pencil, and etching into her works. One of her most recognizable features is the use of washy glazes that create dripping paint effects. The artist draws inspiration from the works of Nadar, Alfred Stieglitz, and Robert Mapplethorpe.

Her painting process typically begins with photographs. Peyton often captures her subjects using either a standard 35-millimeter camera or a Polaroid, with no specific focus on composition or lighting. In 2002, she transitioned to using a digital camera. The figures she depicts are often slender and almost androgynous, imbuing them with a sense of sexual ambiguity. These figures are frequently engaged in melancholic activities such as sleeping, sitting, or daydreaming. Since 2007, Peyton has expanded her subjects to include still life in her work.