1980s Post-Modern Tabloid Assemblage - "Queen of Mean" Abstract Portrait (Leona Helmsley)

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A compelling and visceral piece of 20th-century social commentary, this mixed-media assemblage
offers an abstract portrait of the infamous New … Read more A compelling and visceral piece of 20th-century social commentary, this mixed-media assemblage
offers an abstract portrait of the infamous New York real estate mogul, Leona Helmsley.

Constructed during the height of her notoriety (c. 1988–1992), the work serves as a "memento mori" of 1980s excess and the power of the tabloid press. The artist has utilized authentic New York tabloid newsprint to build the profile of the "Queen of Mean," effectively merging her identity with the headlines that defined her.

The piece is finished with a heavy, high-gloss acrylic glaze, creating a "petrified" effect that adds physical depth and a hard, industrial sheen. The chaotic composition of torn paper, deep ochres, and crimson tones contrasts sharply with the sharp, recognizable profile emerging from the media frenzy. See less