Mel Ramos is a pop artist who is particularly known for his comic-like images of nude, sensual women. He was born in Sacramento, CA and studied art at Sacramento State College.
In the early 1960s, before his artistic success, Ramos spent several years teaching in the Bay Area. His works were featured alongside works by Roy Lichtenstein (American, 1923 – 1997) and Andy Warhol (American, 1928 – 1987) in a Pop Art exhibition at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art in 1963.
In 1965, he began his popular works of nude pin-up girls. In works such as Butterfinger (1995) and Lucky Lulu (1965), Ramos depicts young female bodies with candy bars, cigarettes, and other branded items. His works represent modern society and its treatment of the female body and the comparison of beauty and consumption. His trademark is the reference to art history and classical mythology.
Ramos’ works have been exhibited internationally and have been in numerous museums, including the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York and the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. He has received teaching appointments from California State University, Syracuse University, and the University of Wisconsin.
