Spotlight
Clockwise from left: DAVID DOWNTON’s art tools include lustrous black ink, gouache and acrylics. His limited-edition prints depicting JACKIE KENNEDY ONASSIS and ELIZABETH TAYLOR from the“Ultimate Icons” series, prices upon request. Downton with JOAN COLLINS. A portrait of RUDOLF NUREYEV, also part of the “Ultimate Icons” series.
Frame Worthy
ILLUSTRATOR DAVID DOWNTON’S LIMITED-EDITION PRINTS CELEBRATE SOME OF OUR MOST BELOVED ICONS
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British portraitist and world-famous fashion illustrator David Downton has brought his art to California for a landmark, one-year exhibition. Curated by Mary Ta, design innovator, art enthusiast and the owner of Minotti Los Angeles and co-owner of Mass Beverly, the David Downton exhibition features the “Ultimate Icons” series, complete with three luminous faces, showcasing Jackie Kennedy Onassis, Rudolf Nureyev and Elizabeth Taylor. The artist, who works magic with oil sticks, ink and watercolors, creates signature images that once moved Christian LaCroix to call them “a mirror of the soul.” “When I saw David’s portraits of Liz Taylor and [Rudolf] Nureyev, in particular, I was struck with the idea that they would look more dramatic in a larger scale, since high ceilings and vast white walls are a hallmark of California architecture,” Ta says. The pieces, which range from 33 inches to 44 inches ($8,000 to $12,500), will be on display at Ta’s showrooms along with his “Screen Goddesses” and “Fashion Muses,” and a limited number of signed, one-off
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portraits from Downton’s book, Portraits of the World’s Most Stylish Women (Laurence King Publishing). Special events will run through the end of the year, and the artist has scheduled exclusive portrait commissions during his time in California. While this exhibition shows off some of his most iconic visages, Downton admits he’s still dreaming about sketching the faces of Julianne Moore, Jon Hamm and Raquel Welch, adding: “California needs big personalities, authentic legends— people to make us dream.” 8936 and 9000 Beverly Blvd., W.H., 310-271-2172. • JENNIFER BLAISE KRAMER
“ULTIMATE ICONS”: COPYRIGHT DAVID DOWNTON. PHOTOS: JACOBUS SNYMAN.
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