The "Lifetime" posters
Gallery: one \ two \ three
the Mirage "Ship"
1977 \ 200 s/n \ 800 unsigned
This is the first poster Karl Bornstein (of Mirage) did with Patrick after the artist wandered into his little gallery in Hollywood to show him the rock and roll album art in his portfolio. Obviously, one of the few that did not feature beautiful models, the 'ship' pays homage to the great Deco posterist, A.M. Cassandre, of the 1930's. Very rare, especially the s/n version.
Casa Lupita
1978 \ 250 s/n \ 20 a/ps \ 1000 Unsigned
These earlier posters were quite a bit more subtle than the later work and will probably be remembered as being more exemplary of what Nagel was all about -- great design. Although they are physically smaller they pack a big whollap in terms of composition and design sense. Note the way the parrot and flower work with the shadowing to create the impression of motion. Great poster, somewhat hard to find.
Iowa Agro
1978 \ 250 s/n \ 15 a/ps \ 1000 unsigned
Bornstein's marketing brilliance was trend setting. He had no money in the beginning and made deals with companies who would agree to front the printing costs for these early posters, in exchange for the visibility and prestige it gave the companies. Iowa Agro was an agricultural research firm. The poster is vintage Nagel and certainly put that company on the map.
Galerie Michael
1982 \ 250 s/n \ 40 a/ps \ 1200 unsigned
You'll note this is a similar image as that used in the limited edition 'Michelle.' Todd worked for this gallery on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, (it was then in Century City). The gallery hosted a personal appearance and one-man show for Nagel in 1982. It arranged the obligatory fancy wine and cheese on the Friday nite, where about twenty major paintings were sold. It had also advertised that Nagel would be on hand the next afternoon for a few hours to sign this poster. When Todd got to work the next morning, there was a line around the block. Nagel must have signed and dated a couple hundred of these.
Noble Gallery
1982 \ 250 s/n \ 40 a/ps \ 3 p/ps \ 1200 unsigned
An extremely nice image but one that never sold all that well. Of course, every signed Nagel immediately sold out, but the unsigned version of this poster did languish quite a bit. Colors are a little unusual for Patrick. Noble was a Wisonsin dealer who early on supported the program and who was rewarded for his efforts with this poster.
Architectural Digest (Cytisus)
1982 \ 350 s/n \ 1250 unsigned
We've never understood this image. Supposedly, it was quite a coup for a (then) small publisher to make this deal with A.D., and the image is quite a nice composition, if a little lackluster. But it certainly was a departure for Nagel. Note the unusually large s/n state.
Papillon
1982 \ 250 s/n \ 20 a/ps \ 25 s/n 'state' edition \ 1000 unsigned
A really cool image. Typical Nagel, great hard edged look yet soft and mysterious. The State edition was identical tyo the others except for a small silver star on the model's left cheek, and some 'hand painting'. Papillon was an small gallery on Los Angeles' chic Melrose Ave. which dealt in Art Nouveau and especially antique posters, someone with whom we all did business in that world, back in the day.
Hanson
1980 \ 250 s/n \ 15 a/ps \ 1000 unsigned \ 1 progressive s/n \ doubles: 5 s.i.s; 4 s/n
An odd choice for a great art poster, this was an investment firm in New Jersey. Hanson was an early 'taker' on Mirage's offer to fund a Nagel poster in exchange for the marquee it would give them to be hanging in art galleries and collector's homes. Worked for them nicely.
Sunglasses
1983 \ 250 s/n \ 20 a/ps \ Unknown qty of unsigned
This may be the most readily recognizable lifetime Nagel poster. This piece was produced not as a serigraph, but what was termed a 'solid plate' lithograph -- which is really just a fancy way of describing an off-set litho. Although, yes, it did have a semi-legitimate signed and numbered 'state' after printing the first run of probably 3,000, Nagel then signed and numbered 270 of them himself) it was subsequently printed (and reprinted) in the tens of thousands. Mirage would literally sell it to anyone and it was not unusual to see it for resale in vacant lots and swap meets. It has 'some' small collectible value, since it technically is a 'lifetime' piece, but the unknown number in existence mitigates its investment value considerably.
Paper Mill
1980 \ 250 s/n \ 20 a/ps \ 5 p/ps, s/n \ Doubles 5 s/n; 5 s.i.s. \ 1000 unsigned
The coolest of the cool. Pat's nod to Orientalia, we suppose, but a very complete image and such a mundane topic! You fans will note that there is also something unusual about this poster. A paper company...hmm...all very Twin Peaks.
