The work achieved commercial success through inexpensive reproductions on prints, plates, and cups. Margaret now lives in Napa, California where she continues to paint and since 1992 her work is regularly on display at the Keane Eyes Gallery in San Francisco. [15] Margaret found him "suave, gregarious and charming. [14] He would later tell reporters, however, that he had given up his "highly successful real estate career" in 1947. . If it were bad, so many people wouldn’t like it.”   Margaret went on to become one of the most successful living artist in the early 60s to present day. For more information or to make an appointment, please send an email to info@keane-eyes.com or call us at +1 (415) 922-9309. Margaret Keane, a famous American artist and pop culture icon, is universally known as the "mother of big-eye art." (approx. Eyes are windows of the soul," Keane explains. She rationalized the situation on the ground that "[a]t least they were being shown. [10] Despite her claims to fine art, she has never been a critical success; instead she remained "known for her sticky-sweet paintings of doe-eyed waifs that became the middlebrow rage in the late 1950s and 1960s, then kitschy collectibles of high-ironic style decades later."[34]. [12], Some time in the mid-1950s, Margaret, married with a child, met Walter Keane. Free shipping on many items | Browse your favorite brands | affordable prices. When I'm doing a portrait, the eyes are the most expressive part of the face. Who is Margaret Keane? "The eyes I draw on my children are an expression of my own deepest feelings. Andy Warhol said "I think what Keane has done is just terrific. [7][29][30] In the 1990s, Tim Burton, a Keane art collector and director of the 2014 biographical film Big Eyes about the life of Margaret Keane, commissioned the artist to paint a portrait of his then-girlfriend Lisa Marie. In the 1960s, Keane became one of the most popular and commercially successful artists of the time. Keane says she doesn't care about the money and just wanted to establish the fact that she had done the paintings. . Now 87, Margaret Keane stills paints, and exhibits her work at the Keane Eyes Gallery in San Francisco. About Keane Eyes Gallery We are located at 349 Geary St., San Francisco, CA 94102.Our gallery has the largest collection of Margaret Keane's art. Margaret, now in her late 80s, remarried and continued painting. “BIG EYES” a movie about the life of Margaret & Walter Keane, Directed by Tim Burton, and staring Amy Adams and Christoph Waltz to be released December 25, 2014. "[18], In 1957 Walter began exhibiting the "big eyes" paintings as his own. Her works became happier: the children were finally smiling and looking happy, instead of being sad and gloomy. After the verdict Keane said "I really feel that justice has triumphed. The popularity of Margaret Keane’s work and her fascinating story gives her a deserved place … Margaret Keane is known for her iconic "Big Eyes" paintings. [19] He took nine paintings to New Orleans, which he claims to have sold during Mardi Gras. In 1992 the Keane Eyes Gallery was up and running, offering Big Eyes on posters, plates and prints, ranging in price from $200 to $15,000. 16" x 12" View Full Details. She mainly paints women, children, or animals in oil or mixed media. After her legal win, Margaret moved to Hawaii and became a Jehova’s Witness, as she found love and affection there. Despite the rather bizarre nature of her subjects, Keane has experienced intense critical acclaim and commercial success.