Leeteg: Babes, Bars, Beaches, and Black Velvet Art

Iconoclast, contrarian, pugilist, artist, Edgar Leeteg is unforgettable.

Considered the “American Gaugin,” the rakish ladies’ man originated the modern technique of oil painting on black velvet, a style made famous by the Tiki art craze of the twentieth century.

With just a few paint brushes and oils, Leeteg left California in 1933 for the South Pacific. His home in Tahiti allowed him to paint, drink, and party, earning a reputation as a brilliant, if antagonistic, fixture of the South Pacific art scene. Tourists would seek him out for his generosity of wine, women, and song, while critics found themselves targets of his pen.

Leeteg’s story is vivid and gripping, with both humor and suspense characterizing his rebellious life. What can the artist teach us about what it means to create and love without fear?

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