Democrats are more beautiful (after Jonathan Horowitz), 2001 (via New Museum)

Elizabeth Peyton has been widely credited with “bringing back” portraiture. Perhaps she brought it back from wherever Warhol dropped it when he died. She paints portraits from clippings, photographs, and sitters. To study her subjects is to get to know who she is or what she wants to be: classical, yet relevant; intellectual, yet sincere; attractive, but shy; independent, but still fragile.

Elizabeth Peyton is very serious about her work. But not in the same sense as Koons, Hirst, or Murakami with their 100+ studio assistants. Peyton is the only person touching her canvases. She treats her studio like her own private chapel.

In her new show, which opened last night at New Museum, you can find portraits of those who fascinate her (or at least did at one point in time). Live Forever features historical figures, rock stars, fellow artists, ex-lovers, fashion designers, and even herself. Elizabeth Peyton only paints those she feels some connection with, allowing sincerity and earnestness to be present in her work.

“My work is my life,” she said to me over a cup of tea.

Elizabeth Peyton’s paintings are comparable to Wes Anderson’s movies with their delicate richness that is awkwardly appealing. They are what you secretly want your life to be and look like (but not really). They are interesting, melancholy, and set to the perfect soundtrack. What I enjoy most about Peyton’s work is the contrast between tight and loose handling of the brush; for every broad stroke, you’ll find intricate, neat ones. This contrast translates into a vulnerability that can be seen in most of her subjects.

Live Forever is Peyton’s first big solo show in a museum—a retrospective, highlighting her earliest to most recent work. Over 100 paintings span the third and fourth floors of New Museum.

There is a fascinating mini-site for the exhibition including a timeline of Peyton’s life and an interview between Peyton and Laura Hoptman, the shows curator (wife of Verne Dawson, Peyton’s contemporary).

Live Forever: Elizabeth Peyton runs until January 11th, 2009 at New Museum, 235 Bowery.

(Full Disclosure: I interned for Elizabeth Peyton’s assistant from March to June 2008. I only met with her once in person and she was very polite. I also interned at New Museum this summer and worked on the show, Live Forever: Elizabeth Peyton. She most likely has no idea who I am.)