15 of Margaret Keane’s Most Iconic Paintings

15 of Margaret Keane’s Most Iconic Paintings

Margaret Keane was an American artist well known for her unique style of painting subjects with big eyes. Margaret’s paintings were very popular in the 1960s and were reproduced on various products such as plates and cups. Her work paintings mainly consisted of women, children, or animals in oil or mixed media. Each of Margaret’s artworks showcased her unique style and ability to evoke emotion through her art. Her husband Walter Keane had originally claimed credit for her work and sold them under his name. However, after their successful divorce in 1965, Margaret managed to prove her authorship after a court “paint-off” in public.

Her work has been critically acclaimed and admired by some celebrities, such as Andy Warhol. Her story has also made it into a movie by Tim Burton in 2014, called “Big Eye.” Therefore, today in this article we are going to explore 15 of Margaret Keane’s most iconic paintings of all time.

1. Big Eyes

“Big Eyes” is one of her earliest and most famous paintings of all time. It portrays a child with stunning large, soul-piercing eyes. The eyes became a signature element of her artwork because she believed that the eyes were the window to the soul. These eyes depict a complex of emotions, from innocence to sadness. Viewers are usually left to interpret the narrative behind these incredible paintings which gained popularity in the 1960s and have since become an iconic part of Margaret Keane’s artistic legacy. They continue to be recognized as a significant contribution to the art world.

2. Tomorrow Forever

Margaret Keane’s tomorrow forever

This is one of Margaret’s beautiful pieces that depicts hundreds of children with oversized eyes standing in a barren landscape, staring at the viewer. The painting captures a sense of innocence and wonder, inviting the viewers into a world of imagination. It managed to be commissioned for the 1964-1965 World’s Fair in New York but it failed to be accepted by Robert Moses, the president of the fair, who said it was too disturbing and in bad taste. It was also criticized by art critics who viewed it to be sentimental. Later on, the painting was sold to a private collector and it remained unseen for decades until 2012. It is currently displayed at her gallery in San Francisco.

3. The Stray

The 1965 painting by Margaret is a short story inspired by her own experience of being a victim of plagiarism by Walter Keane her ex-husband. It tells the story of a girl named Anna who paints a portrait of a stray cat with big eyes. The painting expresses the theme of compassion and empathy for the abandoned. She hands the painting to her boyfriend, Mark who is an art dealer. Marks sells the painting claiming he is the artist and demands more paintings from Anna who eventually discovers the truth and confronts him for being a fraud. The story was published in a collection of short stories by Margaret Keane, titled “Eyes of Innocence,” in 1972.

4.The Waif

the waif

The iconic painting was created in 1964 by Margaret Keane. It features a young girl with huge signature eyes that Margaret is known for. She is also wearing a tattered dress and is seen holding a flower. The painting captures a sense of loneliness and vulnerability which draws viewers into the emotional world of the subject. The painting is a series of waifs that Keane painted in secret to hide them from his ex-husband. It has continued to touch the hearts of many art enthusiasts to date.

5.The First Grail

This spiritual painting by Keane was created in 1972. It depicts a young girl holding a chalice with a cross on it and a radiant light, surrounded by flowers and butterflies. The painting represents Margaret’s liberation and empowerment as a woman and an artist. Margaret created this painting when she was working on her religious series in the 1960s after converting to Jehovah’s Witness. The painting is part of the religious series and it’s featured in the poster of the 2014 film “Big Eyes.” It’s amazing to see how her unique style continues to resonate with people even after all these years.

6. The Escape

“The Escape” is a powerful and captivating painting that was created in 1967 by Keane. It depicts a young woman with the iconic big eyes that Margaret is famous for. The young woman’s eyes seem to show mixed emotions, and it’s fascinating to look at. The painting presents a sense of longing for freedom. The painting reflects Margaret’s own experience of being in an abusive marriage and her wish to escape with her daughter together with her pets. Her ability to capture such depth and emotion in her artwork is one of the gifts she was entirely blessed with.

7. Tiger Lily

Tiger Lily was created in 1972 and it’s one of the paintings that showcases Margaret’s Keane signature style of the big eyes. The painting shows a young girl holding a tiger lily flower, with a tiger cub lying on her lap. The cab and the girl have a matching orange eye which indicates the strong bond between them. The tiger lily on the other hand symbolizes beauty, strength, and resilience. The painting is part of her “big cats” series, which features children and animals with similar eyes and colors. It shows Keane’s love for Eastern cultures and religions, as well as her love for nature and wildlife. It beautifully captures a sense of innocence and wonder making the viewer resonate with the inner strength of the subject.

8. The Lonely Ones

The Lonely Ones is a piece of art created in 1994 by Keane. It shows a group of children with those signature big eyes that elucidate more about loneliness, sadness, and to some extent, longing for connection. The painting evokes a sense of isolation and vulnerability. In other words, her main theme was to express a range of emotions and how the same can capture viewers at their level. Margaret Keane’s ability to convey such depth and emotion in her artwork is extraordinary.

9. Balinese Dancers

“The Balinese Dancer” by Margaret Keane is a stunning painting created in 1978. This artwork depicts two young girls in a traditional Balinese costume, dancing. Margaret Keane’s distinctive large eyes in the painting add a touch of enchantment to the paintings. It captures the beauty and grace of Balinese dancers, transporting the viewers to the vibrant world of Balinese culture. It also captures the artist’s admiration for exotic places.

10. The First Supper

The 1991 painting features a young girl with Margaret’s iconic big eyes, holding a bouquet and looking at the sky. The painting is full of emotions and captures Keane’s innocence, hope, and the promise of a brighter future. Keane’s unique style and attention to detail make the artwork delightful. She had created this optimistic painting after remarrying and moving to Napa Valley, where she was enjoying a peaceful and happy life.

11. The Strangers

“The Strangers” is one of the remarkable paintings created in 1963 by the iconic artist, Margaret Keane. It was inspired by Keane’s fascination with the masked characters in the Italian commedia dell’arte. In this incredible artwork, Keane shows two children with big eyes and masks on their faces, standing side by side. The painting depicts a sense of mystery and curiosity, as the children seem to be hiding their true identities. Margaret’s enticing skill of capturing emotions and creating a story through her art is really captivating.

12. Mother’s Love

Margaret Keane created this touching and heartfelt painting in 1991. The artwork depicts a mother holding her baby in her arms, both with large expressive eyes. Keane captures the strong bond between the mother and child. She portrays the mother’s tender expression and the child’s innocence so well. The painting majorly expresses the theme of maternal love and devotion, as well as the artist’s appreciation for her mother.

13. Keane’s Children

Artist Margaret Keane

“Keane’s Children” is a 1984 painting that shows a group of children smiling and holding hands together. Margaret has a unique way of capturing their innocence and emotions through her distinctive style of portraying big-eyed subjects. The artwork is a celebration of the artist’s love for children and her hope for their future. Her artwork resonates with so many people who understand her timeless paintings. Her paintings are worth viewing since they are very beautiful and emotive.

14. The Bride

This 1997 painting features a young girl with big eyes that Margaret is known for and a white veil, holding a bouquet. It shows her use of vibrant colors and expressive brushstrokes. Margaret is known for her attention to detail and ability to evoke emotions through her art. The painting is part of the collection of the Keane Eyes Gallery in San Francisco. It has continued to captivate many art enthusiasts who consider it to be very enchanting.

15. The Silent Observer

The painting was created in 1964 and is part of the collection of the Keane Eyes Gallery in San Francisco. It portrays a young girl with big eyes and a blue dress, sitting on a chair and holding a white cat. The artwork expresses the artist’s feelings of loneliness and isolation, as she was staying in an abusive and dishonest marriage. It shows Margaret’s signature style of portraying subjects of her paintings with large eyes because she believed the eyes were the windows to the soul.

Margaret Keane has a unique way of capturing emotions and depth in her artwork, particularly through her distinctive style of portraying big-eyed subjects. She has a way of inviting viewers into a world of imagination. Margaret Keane left an artistic legacy that will continue to captivate audiences with their unique charm and emotive power.