PVettese (1985) - Pop Toy Joconde

Pop Toy Mona Lisa – PVettese – Original work – 61 × 50 × 2 cm

Pop Toy Mona Lisa revisits one of the most emblematic portraits in art history by confronting Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa with the codes of contemporary toy, Pop Art, and Street Art culture.

At the center of the composition, the Mona Lisa maintains her instantly recognizable pose, gaze, and enigmatic smile. PVettese, however, reworks the classic portrait by placing in her hands an interpretation of Mona Lisa in the form of a LEGO-inspired art toy. The small figure in turn adopts the features of the famous portrait and rests on a base bearing the inscription “LEGO MONA.”

This mise en abyme creates a dialogue between several eras and several forms of representation: the historical masterwork becomes a pop icon, then a toy object, lightly questioning how great images in art history continue to circulate today, be distorted, and reinterpreted in contemporary culture.

Manuscript inscriptions such as “masterpiece,” directly drawn on Mona Lisa’s hands, or “always / don’t look” on her face, break with the solemn character of the original portrait and fully inscribe the work in a contemporary graphic language.

Composition and graphic universe

The central figure retains relatively warm and natural tones — browns, ochres, beige, orange, and black — reminiscent of the chromatic universe of the historical portrait. They contrast strongly with a much livelier and more spontaneous background.

The background combines neon green, fluorescent pink, turquoise, blue, orange, burgundy, black, and white. The surface is traversed by vertical drips, splashes, paint sprays, gestural marks, and inscriptions.

Black graffiti, abstract shapes, signs, hearts, sketched flowers and graphic motifs intersect around the Mona Lisa. Some elements appear deliberately covered or partially erased, creating layering and depth effects characteristic of the Street Art vocabulary.

The composition thus opposes two worlds: the immediately identifiable reference to classical painting and the freer visual energy of graffiti and contemporary Pop culture.

Technique and peculiarities of the work

Mixed media on canvas – 61 × 50 × 2 cm.

The work is entirely handmade using mixed techniques, combining painting, graphic tracings, projections, drips, overlays, collages, and various textural effects.

The surface may intentionally present irregularities, roughness, reliefs, textural variations, and thickness differences related notably to collages, overlays, and different layers of material. These characteristics are sought by the artist and are an integral part of the creative process and the work’s aesthetic. They do not constitute defects or deterioration of the work.

Work sold WITHOUT FRAME.

The situational visuals are AI Visualizations based on photographs of the real object. The photos of the real object are conclusive.

Authenticity and shipping

PVettese aka Priscilla Vettese has her works in numerous private collections worldwide, notably in Europe, the United States, China, Mexico, and Australia. The artist is listed in Akoun and Drouot and won the Public Prize in 2020.

The work is accompanied by its certificate of authenticity (COA), signed and dry-embossed by the artist.

The work is packed with the utmost care and shipped securely, with tracking and signature on delivery.