The Mona Lisa’s Sister by Robert Pokorny

2021

13 1/4” x 10 3/4” (Framed)

Acrylic on muscletone 

$1,100

I approach my studio practice with drawing as the root of everything, and sometimes I like to riff on art history as a warmup or dialogue.

I was in the middle of making works centered around my wife and thought these works of her are becoming a “Mona Lisa” like figure to me and why don’t I make a riff on The Mona Lisa. The musician Graham Parker had an album in the 80’s when I was growing up titled The Mona Lisa’s Sister and some lyrics in the album say, 

 "The mona lisa's sister doesn't smile

She tried to pose but only for a while Leonardo sent her home

Since then she has lived alone

With her few belongings and a copy

Of a painting of herself unhappy

She is going to burn it when she's ready”

So, I tipped my hat with a nod and a wink to Leonardo, Graham & my wife Charlene.

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Robert Pokorny

Robert Pokorny is an American contemporary visual artist living and working in Long Beach, California and holds a BA and MFA from California State University Long Beach.

Recent solo exhibitions include ‘Modern Guilt & Blue Skies’ and ‘Dialogue’ at Ampersand Gallery in Portland, Oregon and in a group exhibitions; ‘Within the Distance’ at Johansson Projects in Oakland, California, ‘Left Coast Connection’ at Ringling College of Art + Design, Englewood Florida. His work is held in public and private collections worldwide, including Fidelity Art Collection and University Hospitals Art Collection.

He has been featured in Art Maze Magazine, Amadeus Magazine, Arte Al’ Limite, Cool Hunting, Juxtapoz, Maps, and Voyage LA.