Girl in Blue (Actress)

Lee Godie made a career for herself on the streets of Chicago—living, producing, and selling her work in the city’s outdoor spaces for twenty years. In 1968, with quirky logic and business savvy, she positioned herself on the steps of the Art Institute of Chicago and pronounced herself a French Impressionist, due to her admiration of the beauty and popularity of these nineteenth-century artists in the Art Institute’s collection. With colorful outfits and sales tactics, she captured the attention of passersby to sell her canvases—the interaction was in itself part of her art.

Godie’s persona and paintings were imbued with her love of glamour and flair for drama. She often found inspiration in iconic female characters and movie stars. Joan Crawford (1905–1977) was an especially strong influence, and Godie emulated the actress to the point of interchangeably identifying a self-portrait as a painting of Crawford. Girl in Blue (Actress) takes its cue from both Crawford and Godie, who were both known to don wide-brimmed hats such as this.