Madonna

Peter Howson painting of Madonna Artist Peter Howson unveils a new exhibition this weekend, which includes nude paintings of Madonna done without her knowledge or permission. Madonna's handlers have criticised Howson's "voyeurism," and some art world detractors see the paintings as an obvious gimmick to launch Howson back into the media limelight. After attending a media preview of Howson's exhibition, Guardian critic Elisabeth Mahoney writes, "Feeling neglected by the media after a period in the limelight in the 1980s, when the Tate and National Portrait Gallery vied with celebrities (including Madonna) to buy his paintings, the 44-year-old artist is loving every minute of this cat-and-mouse game with the press." . . . Peter Howson's website has large, high-resolution JPEGs of two Madonna paintings and a public statement about the controversy. . . . BBC News also covers the exhibition and controversy. "[Howson] said the collection of portraits were designed to show Madonna as a powerful and charismatic person while also touching on her religious upbringing. The singer is an avid collector of Howson's work and has previously posed fully clothed for the artist."
Guardian | Peter Howson | BBC (Apr 2002)