You’d know her if you saw her – the rosy cheeks, bouncy curls, hourglass figure, sometimes suggestive, but never explicit. She’s flirtatious but fiercely independent. She was painted by famous pin-up artists like Alberto Vargas, Gil Elvgren and Zoe Mozert whos pin-up paintings adorned covers of leading publications, calendars and advertising companies. She’s such a huge part of history ladies attempt to re-create the look today in the 21st century. Everyone recognizes the 1950-60s pin-up girl, an all-natural American sweetheart.
Robert Sarsony is a self-taught painter who began exhibiting in local shows in New Jersey in 1963. The following year he made his New York debut in a group show at Allied Artists. From 1969 until about 1974 he did a series of paintings based on book and magazine illustrations-“pop antiques,” he calls them-from the 1920s through the 1940s.
Subjects ranged from silent movie photographs and pictures of important historical events to reproductions taken from period children’s books. Sarsony also found he had an affinity for model paintings. The “Model Series” consists of models posing, taking a critical look at the work in progress on the easel. At other times, He painted the model dressing or undressing. And yes, many of Sarsony’s paintings are reminiscent of the 1950-60s pin-up girl.
Painting since the 1950s, Robert Sarsony is a “listed” artist with several auction records and has works in many prestigious private and public collections. His work can be found in the Smithsonian Museum of Art, Butler Institute of American Art, The Canton Museum of Art and various galleries in Maryland, Virginia, Ohio and California.
We are very proud to have the opportunity to exhibit Robert’s private pin-up collection at The Little Gallery in Roanoke. Many of these paintings have never been seen.
Bring your Valentines sweetie out for a date night and enjoy refreshments on Friday, February 1, at 6 pm (First Friday’s Art By Night) to take a trip to the past, prior to the digital age and back to the golden age of the 1950s and 60s.
The Little Gallery /301 Market St /Roanoke VA 24011
