Despite having a short life, Patrick Nagel He left a legacy that has lasted for several years thanks to his particular interpretation of women. Today, it is still possible to see her art in environments where glamor and style intertwine, such as beauty salons.
Patrick Nagel, the artist who reinterpreted feminine beauty
On November 25, 1945, in Dayton, Ohio, Patrick Nagel was born. An American artist who would become an icon of art and pop culture, especially during the 1980s.
Nagel's life was spent mainly in Los Angeles, California, a city he arrived to during his adolescence. After serving in the US Army in the Vietnam War, she focused on her academic training. In 1969 she entered the Chouinard Art Institute, and also earned a degree in Fine Arts from California State University, Fullerton.
The young man would begin his professional life doing graphic designs for ABC. However, it would be his work as an independent artist that would catapult him to fame in the following years.
Already working on his own, Nagel specialized in corporate and magazines, which allowed him to work with large companies such as Universal Studios, IBM or MGM. He was also able to contribute to major publications, including Architectural Digest, Harper's Magazine either plaboy.
The “Nagel woman” who catapulted her career
It was his relationship with magnate Hugh Hefner's magazine that allowed him to evolve his art and develop a style. Furthermore, it was also that space that saw the birth of the “Nagel woman.”
Influenced by Art Deco and Japanese prints, the illustrator developed an idealized version of the postmodern woman. She was characterized by having pale skin, black hair or full red lips.
This conception of feminine beauty caused a stir during the 1980s and due to its overwhelming popularity, it was chosen to create the album cover “River” by the British pop rock band, Duran Duran.
The stylized lines, elegance, attention to detail, its association with fashion and trends of the time, contributed to the fact that, in those years, many beauty salons resorted to Nagel's works as part of their decoration, and although the The artist's popularity decreased after his death; even today it is possible to see pieces that, although they were not made by him, show the clear influence he left.
A great legacy despite a very short life
Patrick Nagel's lifestyle was characterized by poor nutrition, high consumption of cigarettes and poor sleeping habits. This, coupled with heart failure that was never detected, ended the artist's life at just 38 years old due to a heart attack.
Upon his death, some people such as the director, Karl Bornstein, tried to continue marketing the illustrator's works without having great success, mainly because they did not have Nagel's signature and, therefore, their authenticity could not be verified. For 2017, a Japanese version of the album cover “River” It was auctioned, reaching a value of $212,000.
Daniela Ramos Communicator and mother. With 10 years of experience, I have been able to tell stories related to business, personal finances, work culture, entrepreneurship and technology.