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This is the only hardcover biography of Patrick Nagel, improbably the most successful American artist of the 1980s and 1990s, and probably the most anonymous ever. This is the story of his strange, short, wonderful life and the colorful, odd characters without whom it all might never have happened. If you know who Patrick Nagel is, congratulations. If you don't, you know his work, as does half the world's population, who when viewing it, exclaim, "Oh yeah! I had that poster!" And they did. In the 1980s and 1990s, over two million Americans framed his work in their homes – and almost none of them knew his name or his fascinating life story. If you'd like your copy autographed by the author, you must order through this site and place your request in the Comments section. • He was born in Ohio and conquered the art world in Los Angeles. • He died suddenly, at the top of his game, at the age of 38. • He loved women in a respectful, erotic way that caused them to love him, though none ever claimed to have an affair with him. • His entire life was largely based on The Thin Man. • He never exercised, subsisting on martinis, coffee, soda and candybars and worked almost every night until 4 AM on his art. • His art graced all genres of music album covers, including Duran, Duran's international top-selling album, Rio, in 1982. • Hugh Hefner maintains the largest collection of his work. • At least one piece of Nagel's work was in every issue of Playboy magazine from 1974 through 1982. • He served two years on the front lines in the Vietnam War. • His work hung on the walls of over 2,000,000 American homes in the 1980s and 1990s. • His style influenced Robert Palmer's Addicted to Love and Simply Irresistible music videos in the 1980s and thirty years later, was the direct influence for Rob Lowe's Moonbeam City in 2015. • He died before most digital technology was invented, working by hand. • His work set the style for today's graphic novels. • His value and legacy crumbled after his death due to his greedy alter ego manager, who himself died alone and in poverty.

Join the new Patrick Nagel discussion group! It's free. Meet other Nagel fans, trade art, questions and stories. Download the Patrick Nagel Collector's Guide. It's free, too, and lists the pieces you should watch for.