Antonio Lopez: Fashion, Art, Sex, and Disco

Description

The first complete monograph on Antonio Lopez, the influential Warholian fashion illustrator of the 1960s, '70s, and '80s. Best known for dazzling illustrations in Women's Wear Daily, Vogue, the New York Times, Interview, and for high fashion labels, Antonio Lopez (1943-1987) was a force majeur in the fashion world for three decades. In the '60s, Lopez's vibrant illustrations helped usher youth culture into the pages of magazines, setting a new, free-flowing, sexually liberated standard for fashion imagery. Living in Paris during the 70s with his creative partner Juan Ramos, Lopez launched the modeling careers of Jerry Hall, Grace Jones, and Jessica Lange among others, worked with design royalty like Karl Lagerfeld and Yves Saint Laurent, and cultivated a soigne nightlife persona in the blistering-hot underground clubs of Paris. Returning to New York City in 1976, Antonio documented the sexy influence of athletic-wear, puffy, down coats, and break-dancing style, inspiring such designers as Norma Kamali and Anna Sui. Widely recognized during this period as the world's most influential fashion illustrator, Antonio's work took on a deeper, more sculptural dimension in the 80s, richly detailed, with a vivid palette, and heroic proportions and poses. So deft and varied in his expression, Antonio Lopez simultaneously executed campaigns for labels as diverse as Norma Kamali, YSL, Valentino, Missoni, and Versace--an unprecedented feat in a highly competitive industry. The prolific Lopez produced an incredible number of drawings, illustrations, paintings, photographs, and fantastic mixed-media journals, and this book showcases his most iconic works, as well as never-before-seen Instamatic photos, behind-the-scenes Polaroids, letters, and ephemera which, together, provide an understanding of the career trajectory of an extraordinarily talented artist, and convey Antonio Lopez's enduring influence on fashion today. "I'm from the generation that came to New York to meet their idols. In my case it was Andy Warhol and Antonio Lopez." --Anna Sui

Roger Padilha and Mauricio Padilha are the founders of MAO Public Relations and MAO Mag and authors of The Stephen Sprouse Book. Andre Leon Talley is a contributing editor to Vogue. Anna Sui's clothes, cosmetics, and accessories are sold in more than fifty countries worldwide. She launched her company in 1991, and in 2009 she received the CFDA Lifetime Achievement Award.

"This book brings together an incredible number of his works from his career, including drawings, illustrations, paintings, photographs and mixed-media journals, showcasing iconic imagery and never-before-seen Instamatic and Polaroid photos, letters, and other ephemera---forming a complete portrait of a man who redefined fashion imagery for the second half of the 20th century and beyond." Metrosource.com "Antonio takes a look at the wild life and times of iconic '80s illustrator Antonio Lopez.." Elle Magazine ..".one of fashion's greatest all-time artists and illustrators, is being honored with a gorgeous new book documenting his remarkable work from the '60s to the '80s..." Sportswear International ..".the book is prodigious in its coverage of the body of work created by Mr. Lopez during his career. This book is a veritable "fairy tale: " a biography of the artist and the circle of people surrounding him at various stages in his life. If you have an interest in any of the following: the art of fashion, the halcyon days of New York City and Paris, fashion illustration, or fine art there can be no greater gift than this paean to Mr. Lopez." Jeffrey Felner, New York Journal of Books ..".a fascinating romp through the artist's life and times, discoveries and obsessions, friends and fame." Artinfo.com "The aim of his books...is to introduce Lopez to a new generation. Most of the cashe has never been seen before; all of it looks just as cool and commanding as it did in its day." W Magazine ..".a loving and lavish tribute to the Puerto Rican-born artist." Fashioninformer.com "Antonio Lopez was the most renowned fashion illustrator of the 1970s and '80s. Antonio Lopez: Fashion, Art, Sex, and Disco collects some of his finest work, along with many of the photographs he made and worked from." Bloomberg News "A new book pays homage to a fashion illustrator who redrew history. Antonio Lopez...elevating fashion illustration to an art form and, along the way, becoming a major influence on the photography, advertising, and couture worlds. [Antonio Lopez] a career-spanning volume that features not only Lopez's drawings, but also paintings, letters, and never-before-seen photography." Out