Alberto Vargas

Artist Biography

During his career, Alberto Vargas has always been associated with the cutting edge giants who adored the American woman. The Peruvian-born artist began his career in the United States as the official creator of art, prints and posters for the Ziegfeld Follies from 1919 to 1934.

After his Ziegfeld years, Alberto Vargas moved to Hollywood where he was employed to create art, prints and posters by various movie studios until 1940 when he was hired to replace pinup artist George Petty at Esquire magazine. Apart from gracing the pages of Esquire magazine from 1940 until 1947, his flawless watercolor and airbrushed Varga Girls adorned aircraft, ships, and even uniform Jackets of the US servicemen during the World War II era.

The late 1950s marked the debut of the "Vargas girls" in the pages of Playboy Magazine. Beginning in 1960 until 1976, Alberto's Vargas Girls regularly graced the pages of Playboy as a monthly feature. Both the "Varga" and the "Vargas" girls are included among the most recognizable cultural art, prints and posters of the 20th century.

Alberto Vargas Art, Prints and Posters Collection