Miss Dirty Martini

Oil on cradled claybord, 18″ x 24″, unframed but has hanging hardware so it can be hung right away. The sides of the cradled board are painted black and are 1″ deep.

This painting appeared in the National Association of Women Artists D.I.V.A. juried exhibition (2013) but was originally made for a solo show at Foundation Gallery in New Orleans (2013). Gayle has always loved New Orleans and this show was her love letter to the city. Half of the paintings in the show were oil paintings and half were drawings. Most of the portraits were of her burlesque friends.

The woman in this drawing is Miss Dirty Martini, a famous burlesque dancer, pin-up model, and dance teacher living and working in New York City. In 1992, Gayle met a woman named Denise Dalfo Zay in Janet Panetta’s dance class. Denise asked Gayle if she would like to dance in the can-can which she choreographed every Bastille Day in a French restaurant called Restaurant Florent, which she also managed. Gayle said yes, and continued to dance in the can-can and various other burlesque shows until the restaurant closed in 2008. Miss Dirty Martini was one of the other burlesque performers at Restaurant Florent. One little known factoid is that she also attended SUNY Purchase with Gayle.

Here’s a picture of it with me so you can see what size it is!

If you want to pick up this piece from Gayle in NYC and pay for it when you get it, select “COD” (cash on delivery) and “local delivery” when checking out.

If you would like to see the work in person in NYC before buying it, please contact Gayle.

Additional notes:

1. The dimensions written in the “Additional Information” section below are for the size of the box this item would be mailed in, if it is mailed. The actual size of the piece is listed above.
2. The artist retains all licensing rights to the work – i.e. the buyer cannot use this image to sell any products or merchandise such as cards, t-shirts, mugs, etc.