New Forever stamps honor Roy Lichtenstein

The U.S. Postal Service on Monday recognized the centennial of American artist Roy Lichtenstein’s birth with the dedication of new stamps in his honor at the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York.

The Forever stamps feature five of the artist’s bold, eye-catching creations and come in panes of 20, the Postal Service said in a news release.

“The Postal Service uses its stamp program to raise awareness and celebrate the people who represent the very best of our nation,” said Thomas Marshall, general counsel and executive vice president of the Postal Service, who served as the stamps’ dedicating official.

“Roy Lichtenstein certainly deserves this recognition because of the remarkable creativity and innovation he demonstrated throughout his career. Altogether, he created more than 5,000 paintings, prints, drawings, sculptures, murals and other objects that continue to be celebrated for their wit and invention,” Marshall said in the news release.

“I have always been a fan of the Post Office. I think it's an amazing organization. It gets mail to everywhere, not just in this country, but around the world," said Dorothy Lichtenstein, the artist’s widow, and president of the Roy Lichtenstein Foundation.

“I think it's an honor and more people will find out about Roy. I think he would have really loved it,” she said of the new stamps, according to the release.

The stamps were designed by Derry Noyes, an art director for the Postal Service.

Stamp artwork

“Standing Explosion (Red)” (1965) is a porcelain enamel on steel work that is part of the collection of the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, Ark.

“Modern Painting I” (1966) is an acrylic, oil and graphite pencil on canvas painting that is part of the collection of the Frederick R. Weisman Art Foundation in Los Angeles.

“Still Life With Crystal Bowl” (1972) is an acrylic, oil and graphite pencil on canvas painting that is part of the collection of the Whitney Museum of American Art.

“Still Life With Goldfish” (1972) is an acrylic, oil and graphite pencil on canvas painting that is owned by a private collector.

“Portrait of a Woman” (1979) is an acrylic, oil and graphite pencil on canvas painting that is owned by a private collector.

In the left third of the pane is a photograph by Bob Adelman of Lichtenstein standing in front of one of his dot-pattern paintings. His face is framed by a model of his 1983 sculpture "Brushstrokes in Flight."

Stamps and other philatelic products can be bought through the Postal Store at usps.com/shopstamps, by calling 844-737-7826, by mail through USA Philatelic or at post office locations nationwide.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Daily News: New Forever stamps honor Roy Lichtenstein