“Ballerina with Flowers” Oil Painting by Igor Talwinski.
Within The Michael Aaron Gallagher Fine Art Collection, the Igor Talwinski exhibit features 13 of the artist’s finest original oil paintings, along with two framed ballerina prints and a full-sized print on stretched canvas.
Born in Warsaw, Poland in 1907, Igor Talwinski became a soldier during World War II and was eventually captured by the German army. Following his release from a POW camp, he emigrated to France. It was in Paris, where his art began to receive great notoriety.
“Through the Looking Glass” ballerina oil painting by artist Igor Talwinski. Dated 1976.
For decades, Talwinski produced stunning portraits that were sold in prestigious auction houses and galleries worldwide, including Christie’s and Sotheby’s. In 1957, Talwinski’s portrait of Debutante of the Year, Henrietta Tiarks (now Henrietta Russell) appeared on the cover of the British publication The Tattler (Feb. 13, 1957). She would later go on to become the Duchess of Bedford and Marchioness of Tavistock, living for a time in the famed Woburn Abbey in Bedfordshire, England.
As he became more prominent, Talwinski’s work was accepted into the highly respected annual exhibition called the Salon des artistes français presented by the Société des Artistes Français. According to their archives, he exhibited at the famous Salon in Paris in 1953-1960, 1964-1970, 1972, 1973, and 1975. Some of the paintings on display included, “Nature Morte,” “Fleurs,” “Portrait d’une Femme,” “Femme nue,” “Tête d’une femme,” “Repos,” and “Laurence.” His work was also featured in exhibitions in London and New York.
In the 1970s, Igor Talwinski received the highest honors from the Council of Paris, the Silver Medal of Paris and the most prestigious award, the “Grand Vermeil,” which is given to significant political or cultural figures for his advancement of the arts. By the time of his death, in 1983, his work had become highly coveted by fine art collectors around the world.
“Ballerina in Repose.” Oil painting by Igor Talwinski.
Although Talwinski painted a variety of subjects, including a modern still life of flowers in a vase and numerous portraits, some of his most extraordinary paintings were ballerina portraits of his niece. As one of the most beautiful models in contemporary art, his niece was the subject of many of his paintings, including those in The Michael Aaron Gallagher Fine Art Collection. Talwinski’s ballerina paintings continue to be Michael’s favorite examples from the dance genre on the art market today.
In recent art auctions, a Talwinski ballerina painting sold for $3,470 and a portrait by the artist sold for $2,750. Paintings by Igor Talwinski are also available for sale on 1stDibs.com for $4,865. (Some of Igor Talwinski‘s oil paintings have also been misattributed to a non-existent artist “Joan Trawinski” due to the signature being misread by sellers.)
To view more original works of art in The Michael Aaron Gallagher Fine Art Collection click here. For information about works that have been donated to the collection click here.