Antonio Lopez was born in Puerto Rico, but moved to New York at an early age. While studying at the Fashion Institute of Technology, Lopez illustrated for Women’s Wear Daily and The New York Times. He began a professional and romantic relationship with Juan Ramos a fellow FIT student. Throughout the 60s they produced work for clients such as Saks Fifth Avenue, Harper’s Bazaar, and Elle Magazine, and started a long-time collaboration with designer Charles James.
In 1968, Lopez and Ramos moved to an apartment in Paris owned by Karl Lagerfeld, a friend and collaborator. Illustrating for the biggest publications and fashion houses, their style provided "a stark contrast to the stuffiness that had previously defined French fashion. Their pioneering choice of models of color, camp posturing, and irreverence for outdated institutions ushered in a new era of modernity."
Antonio Lopez discovered many prominent models, often referred to as 'Antonio’s Girls.' His muses included Jerry Hall, Jane Forth, Donna Jordan, Pat Cleveland, Tina Chow, Grace Jones, Paloma Picasso, Jessica Lange…
He also experimented with photography, and in his later years developed an avid passion for teaching. Lopez always pushed boundaries in his art, exploring themes like race, sexuality, and queer identity.
Lopez died of complications related to AIDS in 1987, as did Ramos in 1995. Today their contributions are chronicled by The Estate and Archive of Antonio Lopez and Juan Ramos.
