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Question: Melanie Taylor Kent Biography
Answer: A Whimsical Historian
Melanie Taylor Kent is a Pittsburgh-born visionary who has spent her "no-smoke" career documenting the heart of American culture. Educated at the UCLA School of Art, Kent won her first National Art Competition at age 12 and spent years teaching art in Los Angeles before founding her own publishing company in 1980. Her style—a fusion of intense detail and whimsical imagination—is characterized by "hidden" personalities; she often challenges collectors to identify dozens of famous figures tucked away in her crowded cityscapes. Kent holds a historic distinction as the first artist licensed by the Walt Disney Company to portray their theme parks in limited edition prints. Her credentials include serving as the official artist for the 50th Anniversary of the Wizard of Oz, the 100th Anniversary of the Statue of Liberty, and the 1984 LA Olympics. Her work is held in permanent collections at the Smithsonian, the Statue of Liberty Museum, and the Atlantic City Museum.
At Herndon Fine Art, we have been a primary source for Melanie Taylor Kent for over 40 years. Our collection is a vetted selection of Vetted Consignments (RH code) and Vetted Dealer Networks, focusing on her "Anniversary" suites and her rare Hand-Remarqued Artist Proofs. Because Kent’s serigraphs rely on massive color counts and specialized finishes like gold foil, our vetting process ensures that the "embossed" elements haven't flattened and that the pigments remain vibrant. We stand behind every signature and Remarque with our A+ BBB commitment. |
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Question: What is a "Remarque" in her work?
Answer: A Remarque is a small, original sketch hand-drawn by Kent in the border of the print. While her standard editions are highly collectible, a Remarqued Edition is considered a "unique-within-the-set" work. At Herndon Fine Art, we verify these hand-drawn elements in your database, as they represent the "Blue Chip" tier of her market. |
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Question: Why is her Disney work so technically significant?
Answer: Kent broke new ground in 1987 as the first outside artist allowed to create official limited editions of Disney Parks. The market for Kent remains exceptionally liquid; while her Wizard of Oz and Disney remarqued editions carry retail values over $9,000, hand-signed limited editions consistently realize between $1,200 and $4,500 on the secondary market. |
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Question: What is the "hidden personalities" challenge?
Answer: A hallmark of a Kent serigraph is the inclusion of "identifiable people." For example, her Statue of Liberty Centennial features 100 identifiable immigrants. We use our 40 years of experience to identify these specific "easter eggs" for your collectors, moving past "marketing smoke" into the technical narrative of the piece. |
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Question: What are "Licensed" vs. "Unlicensed" commemorative prints?
Answer: Kent is famous for "Event" art (Olympics, Disney Anniversaries, Wizard of Oz). A print that is "Officially Licensed" (featuring the Disney or Warner Bros. copyright in the margin) is the only version a serious collector should pursue. Unlicensed "fan art" has no secondary market value. |
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Question: Why are there so many "Characters" in her work?
Answer: Her style is "Narrative Pop." A single serigraph might contain 100+ hidden celebrities or characters. Collectors often use a magnifying glass to "find" everyone. The more "crowded" and "detailed" the scene, the more valuable the print. |
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Question: What is the "Serigraph" color count for Kent?
Answer: Kent’s serigraphs are technical marvels, often using 150 to 200 separate color screens. This gives the prints a "thick" paint feel and incredible color depth. If a print looks "thin" or "washed out," it is likely a 4-color offset litho reproduction and not a fine art serigraph. |
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Question: How do "Vetted Consignment" and "Vetted Dealer Network" listings differ?
Answer: At Herndon Fine Art, we value talking to you directly. Vetted Consignments (RH code) are pieces sourced from private estates—often original owners from the 1980s centennial celebrations—that we have physically inspected. Vetted Dealer Networks (TAC or AE) come from our trusted partners like Diva Art Group. Regardless of the source, our reputation stands behind every signature. |
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Question: Why should I consult with Herndon Fine Art for a Kent purchase?
Answer: Because Kent’s work is so detailed, condition is paramount. "Toning" (yellowing) of the heavy archival paper or small "foxing" spots can be hidden in her busy compositions. We use our 40 years of experience to check for these flaws and verify the presence of the original Melanie Taylor Kent, Ltd. COA. We don't do "shopping cart" sales; we want to talk with you directly to ensure the "brilliant life" of the piece is perfectly preserved. |
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1. EVERY piece of art receives my personal verification of condition and authentication.
2. I WILL NOT ship artwork that isn't in a condition I would accept into my own collection.
3. An A+ Rating from the Better Business Bureau
***** ALL PRICES are set by each Seller based on their Unique Motivation to Sell ***** We have a low commission structure of only
25% above each Seller's asking price or a $minimum commission. This allows us to provide buyers with the best price, sellers a better opportunity to sell, and still keep the lights on. In almost all cases, artwork is shipped unframed (UNLESS The ARTWORK IS ON CANVAS or 3-DIMENSIONAL), as I need to personally verify the artworks' authenticity and condition. Artwork that is shipped Framed is shipped framed to protect the work during shipping. Framing is considered USED
NOTE: Inventory is continuously changing so view your favorite artists pages often. For information on having your inventory added to our Website, contact us at the address below.
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Every client has different motivations for selling and as such we don't offer pricing on the pieces clients sell
If you are looking for the value of your limited edition artwork -- we have a $50 charge for certificates of value if you provide the title, the number of your piece, and an image of your artwork. Original one-of-a-kind pieces require a formal appraisal. Please see our Appraisal Services page.
All information contained in these web pages is trademarked and copyrighted by Herndon Fine Art (c). All visual copyrights belong to the artists. All rights reserved. |
