Amy Winehouse ('Amy-Blue')
- Artist: Marlene Dumas
- Date: 2011
- Medium: oil on canvas
- Dimensions: 15 3/4 in. x 11 3/4 in. (400 mm x 300 mm)
- Portrays: Amy Jade Winehouse
- Museum: The National Portrait Gallery
- Collection record: The National Portrait Gallery website
Listen to the free audio guide
About this artwork
This is a portrait of Amy Jade Winehouse in a soft, translucent blue hue. The painter, Marlene Dumas, worked in 2011 after Amy’s death to capture her essence from the many photographs she found online. Dumas simplified the singer’s features – you’ll see the dramatic sweep of eyeliner and the subtle shape of her cheekbones – but she left out the beehive hairstyle that fans might expect.
The blue tones cover a simple background, giving the canvas a light wash that echoes Winehouse’s musical influences: soul, R&B, and jazz. Her voice was once described as husky, sultry, and sad, like “a broken heart marinating in whisky and cigarette smoke.” Dumas’ palette brings that mood into color.
The painting sits on a small canvas – about 400 mm by 300 mm – so you can see the brushwork up close. Notice how each stroke contributes to a calm yet vibrant representation of Amy’s face, inviting you to imagine her music and energy.
See it in person
Amy Winehouse ('Amy-Blue') is in the collection of The National Portrait Gallery at St Martin's Place, London — free to enter. Point your phone at any artwork there and audioguide.london plays a free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
