Ultra Violet (6th September 1935-14th June 2014)

She was an artist, author, singer and one of Andy Warhol’s “Superstars” born Isabelle Collin Dufresne in La Tronche, France who earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Art at Le Sacre Coeur in Grenoble, France in 1953.

She moved from France to the United States, where she lived with her sister in New York City. In 1954 she became a pupil, assistant, muse and lover of the artist Salvador Dali.

During the 1960s she became involved in the American Pop Art scene and while at a hotel in New York she was introduced to the artist Andy Warhol by Salvador Dali. Before long she became involved in Warhol’s “The Factory” studio which was renowned for its parties and frequented by many artists and celebrities. Some of the celebrities she met would include countless artists such as Edward Ruscha, Marcel Duchamp, John Graham and Man Ray along with singers such as Maria Callas, Bob Dylan, John Lennon and Yoko Ono.

In 1964 she changed her name to Ultra Violet after Warhol had suggested it due to the dyed violet colour of her hair. As one of his “superstars” she worked there for several years and also appeared in several films and plays including Desire Caught by the Tail by Pablo Picasso. She lost her place as a muse in 1969 after she was replaced by the actress Viva, but did continue to perform in later films.

By the 1970s she was beginning to concentrate on her own career as an artist and by the 1980s had virtually left The Factory. During the early 1970s she recorded a self-titled album with the back cover containing a photo of her by Andy Warhol. The album included covers of songs such as “La Vie en Rose”, “42nd Street” and “As Time Goes By” and some of the musicians included Todd Rundgren on guitar and Gary Coleman on percussion. It was released in 1973 but very few have appeared and it has been said it wasn’t released.

In 1981 she became a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints after suffering depression and an ulcerated colon. Following Andy Warhol’s death in 1987 she published the book Famous for 15 Minutes: My Years with Andy Warhol in 1988. After completing the accompanying book tour she went back to France and opened her own art studio in Nice in 1990. From then she would work in both Nice and New York.

Alongside exhibiting her work in the new millennium she also appeared in several documentaries, a symposium and a solo show. She has exhibited her work in both New York and Nice with three sculptures permanently held at the 9/11 Museum and the last exhibition being Ultra Violet: The Studio Recreated which finished just three weeks before she died in 2014.

She died from cancer in New York City in June 2014 when she was 78 years old.

Sources:

Ultra Violet (6th September 1935-14th June 2014)

Navigation