"Yellow Shirt" Pop-Art Watercolor by Donald Robertson/ Drawbertson

Details

Description

A contemporary minimalist composition depicting a painted yellow polo shirt with the black silhouette of a female dancer in a … Read more A contemporary minimalist composition depicting a painted yellow polo shirt with the black silhouette of a female dancer in a ball gown positioned on the left side of the chest, recalling the placement of emblematic brand logos. Presented as though it were a sewn garment label, the work includes the handwritten name “Zac,” applied with a fine brush. Executed on brown paper with direct, expressive strokes, the piece highlights texture and graphic clarity, combining playful simplicity with a pop-art sensibility.

The artwork is signed “Donald” in the lower left part.


ABOUT THE ARTIST
Donald Robertson (born March 7, 1962) is a Canadian-born artist and longtime creative director for the Estée Lauder Companies. After attending the Ontario College of Art and Design, he was asked to leave due to his stylized, non-realistic figure drawing. This approach would later define his distinctive visual voice.

In the 1980s and early ’90s, Robertson played a pivotal role in the launch of MAC Cosmetics and contributed to the creative direction of major fashion magazines, including Marie Claire, Cosmopolitan, and Glamour. In 2007, he became a creative director at Estée Lauder, and he has since collaborated with brands such as Smashbox, Bobbi Brown, Bloomingdale’s, J. Crew, and fashion designer Giles Deacon. Robertson first gained widespread recognition as “Drawbertson” on Instagram. His whimsical, cartoon-like depictions of fashion icons like Anna Wintour, Kanye West, and Karl Lagerfeld earned him both millions of followers and high-profile collaborations (including a line with Smashbox and a best-selling monograph published by Assouline).

He has been likened to a modern Warhol—though Robertson modestly aligns himself more with Pharrell Williams, preferring warmth and joy in his work. Robertson is celebrated for his playful, handmade aesthetic: bold, expressive, and unpretentious. His early life experiences—including failing life drawing for stylizing figures—are now “the secret to his success,” embodying his philosophy that creativity should be accessible, honest, and infused with a childlike spirit. See less