Vera: The Art and Life of an Icon [Hardcover]

Susan Seid (Author), Jen Renzi (Contributor), The Vera Company (Contributor)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2010

Legendary designer and artist Vera Neumann (1907–1993) believed in art’s ability to inspire and enrich lives. An innovator and one of the most successful female entrepreneurs of her time, Vera built her company on a radical philosophy: fine art should be accessible to everyone, not just a select few. Known for her iconic images of cheerful flowers, trendy geometrics, and vibrant ladybugs, she believed people should surround themselves with beauty.

 

For the first time, Vera: The Art and Life of an Icon, tells her inspiring story through the art and designs she created. In this volume, richly illustrated with Vera’s original sketches, paintings, and photographs of her worldwide travels, readers are introduced to the amazing woman behind the dynamic designs that continue to inspire and influence art, design, and fashion.

 

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Seid, owner of the Vera Company, and Renzi, a former senior editor at Interior Design, attempt to create a thorough portrait of Vera Neumann's (1907–1993) personal and professional life as one of the most influential designers and entrepreneurs of the late 20th century. Readers looking for a serious art historical perspective will wince at the colorful prints and forced attempt at contextualizing their significance, but Neumann herself conceived of her work as a commercial endeavor above all. Famous for scarves and sportswear that became a multimillion-dollar franchise in the '60s, Neumann was always keen on cross-marketing her brand identity to include a range of household products (carried by chic Anthropologie as well as department stores). However, at the core of Neumann's marketing strategy was translating trends in contemporary art to the mass market and introducing her own interpretations of exotic locales such as India and Africa. She was one of the first designers to create a successful lifestyle brand, bridging gaps between fashion, interior design, and celebrity culture. Although the book offers a light and visually appealing read, Neumann's work is probably best appreciated on table linens rather than the printed page.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

About the Author

Susan Seid is the owner of The Vera Company, based in Atlanta, Georgia. She graduated from the Fashion Institute of Technology and has held various executive positions in the retail and direct marketing industries.

 

Jen Renzi has written for publications including the New York Times Magazine, Wallpaper, and Condé Nast Traveler. Previously a senior editor at House & Garden and Interior Design magazines, she is also the author of The Art of Tile.

 

Product Details

• Hardcover: 208 pages
• Publisher: Abrams; First Edition edition (September 1, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0810996049
• ISBN-13: 978-0810996045
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 0.9 x 9.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #65,066 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #22 in Books > Arts & Photography > Fashion > Designers
  • #43 in Books > Arts & Photography > Decorative Arts & Design > Textile & Costume

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A treasure! January 14, 2011

By Scandia

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

This book is beautifully written, thoroughly researched and -- perhaps most importantly -- gorgeously illustrated. It just arrived today and I don't want to do anything else but read it. I was especially thrilled to find that (so far) two of the Vera scarves I own are in it! The authors have tons of information and photos about Vera's fascinating life, her Marcel Breuer house, interest in Alexander Calder... and I'm only about 1/3 of the way through so far. Good job, authors!

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A captivating survey perfect for any serious arts or women's studies collection December 11, 2010

By Midwest Book Review

Format:Hardcover

Vera: The Art and Life of an Icon provides a survey of a designer and artist, Vera Neumann, who built one of the most successful female-run companies of her time based on the idea that fine art should be accessible to all. Her creations were centered in daily living, from placemats and napkins to silk scarves for an outfit, and her original sketches, paintings and photos of her world travels provide a captivating survey perfect for any serious arts or women's studies collection.

11 of 14 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Book September 18, 2010

By Glaucia M. G. Viana

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

This is an excellent, beautiful and charming book for people like me who has always admired Vera's artistic style. The book is very well illustrated and tells Vera's life story in an exciting way.