Vera Neumann - Three Butterflies

Silkscreen on watercolor paper

Vintage print from 1963

Vera Neumann (b. 1907, Stamford, CT – d. 1993, North Tarrytown, NY) created between the 1960s and 1980s. Vera had a profound love for color, often favoring warm tones, particularly yellow and orange. She believed that "color sings" and is the language she spoke best. Her artwork was known for its single gestures that conveyed maximum expression through visually strong tones. Vera's motifs included stylized florals, abstract color fields, and avant-garde geometrics, all rendered in unique combinations. She believed that limiting the number of colors allowed for more flexibility in design, stating, "If you have too many colors, you could very easily get tied down to just one color scheme that can’t be changed […] I feel I have given people more joy with the designs I create."

Vera, a revolutionary icon of American design and brand development since the 1950s, became one of the most successful female entrepreneurs of her time. She was primarily an artist throughout her business career, with her works translating graphically into everyday objects. Neumann maintained close relationships with contemporaries in art and design, including Alexander Calder, Joan Miró, and Marcel Breuer. She was an avid traveler, drawing inspiration from her visits to countries around the world. Neumann's curiosity and global experiences influenced her vision, palette, and understanding of the world, reinforcing her belief that color brings joy into our lives.

Vera Neumann's [1907-1993] company and artworks, "Vera Licensing", were purchased by Salant Corporation in 1988 and assigned to Printex. Vera remained head designer, but Printex closed later that year. Vera painted until the last months of her life and died of a cardiac arrest at Phelps Memorial Hospital in North Tarrytown, NY on June 15, 1993. After her death, Vera continued to receive acclaim from museums and exhibits around the country. In 1999, Vera Licensing, including all original artwork and screen prints, was sold by Salant Corporation to The Tog Shop, a catalog company which had licensed sportswear from Vera Licensing. The Tog Shop was put up for sale in 2005 and Susan Seid, then the VP of Merchandising of The Tog Shop, bought the assets within Vera Licensing and placed the assets into "The Vera Company". In November 2013, the Licensing portion of the company was sold to VNIP Holdings, LLC: including, the licensing agreements, trademarks and copyrights; however, Ms. Seid maintained ownership of the original artwork and screen-printed posters. In October 2023, Ms. Seid created The Vera Neumann Artwork Trust, an irrevocable trust, and funded the trust with the original artwork and screen prints.

USA

We offer free standard shipping on all orders. Artwork is shipped rolled in sturdy shipping tubes for protection. Before rolling, each piece is carefully wrapped in acid-free paper and then further shielded with plastic. Tubes are sealed and shipped via USPS to US addresses and through commercial carriers for international deliveries.

Upon receiving your artwork, it's advisable to lay it flat on the acid-free paper and allow it to rest overnight. Placing it face down on the paper and adding weight, such as books, can aid in the flattening process.

If you prefer alternative shipping methods, please contact us when placing your order to discuss available options.

Under US copyright law and the First Sale Doctrine, reproduction of Vera Neumann’s art and prints, including online images, is limited to personal use only. Commercial reproduction, distribution, or sale of such reproductions is strictly prohibited without the expressed written permission or license from Vera Neumann, Inc..

All images are unaltered unless specified.

Strike-offs, considered art with a story to tell, may exhibit wear including markings, stickers, stamps, folds, repairs, and small tears mostly limited to edges. We feel these markings enhance the uniqueness of each strike-off.

Vintage prints are in excellent or very good condition unless noted otherwise.

Original art is not condition coded. Watercolors may show cockling from creation. Repairs have been made over time to many pieces, and notes by Vera or others may be found in on front and back of the pieces. We have taken steps to prevent deterioration and have repaired small tears as necessary.