Description
Marilyn Monroe
Oil on Board
10 × 15 cm
R850
Marilyn Monroe is a small, high-energy portrait of the screen icon, reimagined in loose, expressive colour. Julie Tugwell builds the familiar face from a mosaic of bright brushstrokes — turquoise curls, patches of pink, yellow, red and green across the skin, deep red lips and knowing, painted eyes — all set against a flat emerald-green ground. The likeness is unmistakable, yet the treatment is playful and thoroughly contemporary.
The mood is bold, warm and full of character. Rather than smoothing the features, the artist lets each confident stroke show, so the portrait feels alive and freshly painted. The vivid green background pushes the colourful face forward and gives the whole piece a lively, pop-inflected charm.
Compact and instantly engaging, this original suits a gallery wall, shelf, studio, dressing room or any space that could use a hit of colour and personality. Its small scale and joyful palette make it an easy, characterful addition to a contemporary interior, bringing warmth and a touch of star quality to the room.
Style
Julie Tugwell is a contemporary South African artist whose work shares qualities with expressive, painterly traditions, favouring energetic brushwork and an emotional response to her subject over strict realism. In this portrait she leans into bold, unblended colour, capturing the character and vitality of the sitter rather than a photographic likeness, creating an original artwork that brings warmth, personality and considered sophistication to a contemporary interior.
Please note: Images are provided as a guide to the artwork’s size and style. As each original painting is photographed under different lighting conditions and viewed on different screens, colours may vary slightly from the original artwork.
