Pin-up Artist: Pearl Frush

When you think of pin-up artists of the golden era of the 1940s and 1950s, you think of an industry made of artists that are mostly men. It was a time when war was rampant, and the young men fighting were often reminded what they were fighting for. One incentive was glamour art in the form of calendars, post cards, magazines, playing cards, etc. Mostly painted by male artists, but there were a few notable women at the top of the Golden Era Pin-Up gods.

              One of which was Pearl Frush. A watercolor artist whose realism surpassed most everyone. She was great at capturing the female figure without it being overly sexual. Frush was especially known for painting incredible faces with a “girl next door” allure. Her 1947 Aquatic Series broke all sales records. The Aquatic Series being a dozen pin-ups all located in aquatic settings. Some of these incredible works have sold at auction for upwards of twenty thousand dollars in 2013. To say she had an impact on the pin-up industry is an understatement.  

              I don’t know the current market for pin-ups, but I am hoping to carve my own path in glamour art. Pin-up art collector Deanna Dahlsad mentions she runs into more women pin-up collectors than men. And with the body positive culture today, glamour art could become more demanding. One thing you can learn from Pearl is the female figure doesn’t have to be too risqué to command attention and cement an artist into the history books. Pearl Frush’s art is still making a statement today, yet much of her life is still a mystery.