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A Joan Crawford Art Gallery

One indication of a true icon is the desire of artists, both contemporary and latter-day, to re-create her image. Joan Crawford began inspiring works of art almost immediately upon her arrival in Hollywood in the 1920s; since then interest in her, and her image, has not waned. Below is a sampling of works of art inspired by Joan Crawford, ranging from the 1920s to the 2010s.

 

During Joan's Lifetime          Posthumous

 

Move your pointer over a picture for more information. Click on a picture to see the larger image.

 

 

During Joan's Lifetime

1929 drawing by Joan's husband Doug Fairbanks, Jr.    Circa 1930. A mural by bandleader Xavier Cugat.    1930. Unknown artist with Joan and painting.

 1931 by Erik Guide Haupt. (Thanks to Gabriel Neilson.)    1931 by Time cover artist M.H. Herrin. Autographed by Joan.

2 examples of 1930s theater poster art by Norton Gaston. (Thanks to Rick.)    1930. On the set of 'Paid,' with Chilean artist Jorge Delano.    1930s Italian postcard, by Ninoza.    A caricature by Joe Grant that was displayed at Sardi's in the 1930s.    1932 caricature by Alex Gard, displayed at Sardi's in NYC.

Bronze statue by Gilbert Riswold, 1931. (Thanks to Rick.)    From a medieval-style mural of Hollywood stars by Russian artist V. Ignatieff, commissioned by Paul Bern for his new wife Jean Harlow in 1932.  See www.jeanharlowmural.com for more complete info.    Franchot Tone, Joan, Clark Gable. 1932 by Cecil Beaton.    1932. Sketch from 'Dance, Fools, Dance' by Edith Leach.

Mid-1930s, by William Reynolds. 9 x 12 inches, in pencil.    Circa 1935 by Mexican artist Jesus Rodriguez Valero.    By Edward Biberman. Displayed in Joan's home for this 1937 magazine layout, actual year of painting unknown.

    By James Montgomery Flagg for 'Photoplay.' '36-'38.    1930s movie magazine art by Henri Sabin.    1930s art for 'Modern Screen' magazine by Pat Eagan.    By Sergio Gargiulo. 1934, for MGM.    Mid-1930s original art for a screen magazine cover. (If you know which magazine's cover this appeared on, please let me know.)

 

1938 French art poster for MGM.    1938 French art poster for MGM.

 

1938 by Henry Major. Caption by Arthur 'Bugs' Baer.    Caricature by Montiel. Year unknown. Please e-mail me if you have any further info on the artist.    Year unknown, by Al Hirschfeld.

 Circa 1940 (Joan and Fredric March from 'Susan and God') by Jose Rivas.    1941 sculpture of Joan by Yugoslavian artist Yucca Salamunich, inscripted 'To Christina.' Commissioned for 'A Woman's Face,' the sculpture made a reappearance in 1964's 'Strait-Jacket.'    A cartoon from the 1942 book 'With a Hays Nonny Nonny' by Elliot Paul and Luis Quintanilla. See www.lqart.org for more info.    1949 by Jack Lane. Displayed at the Brown Derby.

1940s German art poster for Warners.    1950s sketch by 'Eve,' displayed at Hollywood's Roosevelt Hotel.    1951 by James Montgomery Flagg. One segment of a larger 7-movie-queen sketch.    1951 illustration by William Rose for 'The American Weekly' Sunday supplement (2/25/51).    1953. Joan as Jenny Stewart in 'Torch Song.' Appeared in UK's 'Punch.'

 A 1962 sketch by Volpe commemorating Joan in 'Mildred Pierce.'    Painting by Lucerne Robert, year unknown. This appeared on the cover of Joan's 1962 book 'A Portrait of Joan.'    By Margaret Keane. Year unknown. Joan poses in front of this painting on the cover of her 1971 book 'My Way of Life.'    1969 by Tom Wright. (Thanks, Joyce, for the info.)    1969. From 'Night Gallery.' (Thanks to James Bruce.)

Andy Warhol, 1962.    1960s New Yorker cartoon by Charles Addams.    Year unknown by Brian Davis.    Joan by... Bette Davis! Click to read full details.

 1964 pop art by James Rosenquist.    1964. A personal gift from cartoonist Milton Caniff to Joan. Click to see larger version, plus a 1965 gift-sketch.    1960s. Lobby board by Joe Diloreto. Click for larger version, plus another board.    1972 by Don Addis for the St. Petersburg, Florida, Evening Independent.

  1974 by R. Clemons.    1970s by B. Morgen.    1976 by Adolfo Sanchez.

 


Posthumous (post-1977)

1980 by Olivia De Berardinis.    1981. By actor Charles Busch. Pastel, 12 x 18 inches. Auctioned off on eBay, April 2006.    Three oil paintings from 1987 by NYC artist David Starr.    A 1992 chair by Elaine Bannett.

Greeting card caricature by Brad Marshall (concept by T.J. Edwards) for TNT Designs, Inc. Year unknown.    By Richard Beckerman for 'Texas Monthly.' Date unknown.    1986 by Tom Hactman. Mad Magazine.

 

Year unknown. By Demetrie Kabbaz.  See www.demetriekabbaz.com for more info.    By Mick Brownfield, Portal Publications. (Thanks to Charles Triplett for this photo.)

 

 By Franck de la Mercedes. Year unknown. Acrylic, 18 x 24 inches.   By Franck de la Mercedes. Acrylic, 18 x 24.    Year unknown. By Leonie Van Schagen.

2004 by D. K. Stone. 24 x 24, acrylic. See www.ebsqart.com for more info.    Mixed media, by Mr. Frumpy. Year unknown.    21st century Joan computer art by LuLu. Click on this picture to see a larger version, plus 10 other works from the series, ranging from Joan's MGM years through her Grand Guignol period. Thanks to Louis for contributing his work.    Computer-generated art by Peter J. Swanson. Click to go to page with more Swanson works and link to his site.

Year unknown. By Tarantola, 40 x 30 inches. See www.tarantolaart.com for more info.    December 13, 1987, by Amanda Stegelson.

Year unknown. By Bounsay Pipathsouk. 36 x 52 inches.    By Braff. Pencil, 11 x 14.    By Braff, year unknown. 11 x 14, in pencil.

2003. By Leslie Penn.  Visit Penn's eBay store for more of her works:  http://stores.ebay.com/Hollywood-Pastels-by-Leslie-Penn    Pastel on photograph, 8 x 11. By Leslie Penn, 2004.    2005 by Leslie Penn.    Pastel, November 2005. By Orlena Onstott.  Visit http://orlenasart.com/ for more info on and work by the artist.

By Sherry Baker. Acrylic, 10 x 12.    By Adam.    By Brad Fraser, 1989. Acrylic.

By Jim Dale and Pat DuPaul. Mixed media (satin hair, silver lame dress material). 21 x 17 inches. Click on photo to go to page with larger shot, and another Joan from the 'Ol Softies' collection.    'Joanah' by Karen Whitehill.  Found on the now-defunct hymntoher.com site.    'Wrestling the Angel' by Karen Whitehill. From the now-defunct website www.hymntoher.com.

'Joan Crawford's Bedroom.' 22 x 28 etching by Bruce McCombs.    'Rippled Joan' by Walter Pacheco, 2009. www.scorpyorising.com

Spray-painted street art in Santiago, Chile, and computer art by GARG.    By Amanda Dolan from her 2008 Soho show, 'Call Me Crazy,' which featured works about 15 controversial women.

  'Joan Early 1940s' by Anthony Watson. Click to see his entire gallery of Joan paintings, and for more info re purchasing and his website.     3 pastel/pencil artworks by Pablito Matito.     Pencil drawing by Dave Borgesen of Winnipeg. Click to see larger image and to get link for Dave's website.

2003 'Early Joan' by Pamela Farmer.     A beaded Joan brooch by Sherri Leeder.     German artist Michael Richter's individual screen shots that make up his 'Joan Crawford: Drawing Icons' video.

By Matt Burcaw.     2005. 'Joan Crawford on Fire...' by Nan Goldin.     Donald Urquhart, 2007. 'A Joan Crawford Alphabet.'     2012 special 'Leaf' series by 'celebrity sports artist' Kevin-John.

 

 


Legal Note: Per the Fair Use clause of Section 107 of the amended Copyright Act of 1976 (17 USC Section 107),

images on this site are intended solely for non-profit educational purposes,

to provide researchers and general readers with information about Joan Crawford's life and career.

Sources for photos  of art works have been credited when known. If you're the owner of any unintentionally uncredited information,

or an artist who'd like your Joan Crawford image presented here, please e-mail me.