When my parents first started Pink Flamingos, there was no online shop, no checkout page, and no simple way to connect with collectors around the world. There was just a passion for tracking down the vintage art they loved most — iconic 1940s flamingos, lush florals, and timeless romantic prints that could turn ordinary walls into windows to another time.
Two years ago this July, I launched my own chapter of that story — officially bringing Pink Flamingos to this online platform on my birthday in 2023. Since then, I’ve been slowly unpacking the decades of treasures my family preserved, introducing them to a new generation of collectors. In celebration of that anniversary, I’m sharing a bit more of our journey, highlighting some of our all-time favorite finds, and unveiling a few special releases — with even more to come later this month, including a milestone celebration for one of our oldest floral collections (spoiler alert: our Harry Lane still life lithographs turn 80 years old this year!).
The Prints We Love Most
When I asked my parents about their favorites, the answer came easy: “The classic: Pink Flamingos print.”
The Pink Flamingos is the piece that made so many collectors fall in love with this dreamy vintage world. It’s the one that built our name — and for good reason. “It is the premier, classic ‘wall décor’ from the 40’s and 50’s. It is the real deal.”
Even in the bold, cheeky spirit of the 1980s, our beloved Flamingos print made an unexpected cameo — this time above a rumpled motel bed in a PopShots™ 3D greeting card. With floral wallpaper and a striped rug, it’s pure vintage kitsch — and proof that this iconic image didn’t just decorate walls… it made itself at home in pop culture.
But if you ask me? Well, I’ve never been great at picking just one favorite of anything. I love variety — I have too many favorite colors, I always want at least two ice cream flavors, and I could never settle on just one print.
If I had to pick? La Belle Rose is high on my list — the sultry pose, those rose pinks and teal blues outlined in soft charcoal grey. Zinnias and Larkspur made me gasp the first time I unwrapped it — the richness of the colors was love at first sight. And Albo’s Stardust set — short and wide (a framer’s headache!) — with cherubs drifting through wisps of cloud and stardust, just as they drifted over my crib when I was little. I’ve loved passing those along to my own kids, too — sweet images to fall asleep under.
Did you notice the Flamingos didn’t even crack my top three? I love that piece — but there’s so much more vintage beauty to be found within our long-held brown paper packages.
If I could choose one print for every customer? I wouldn’t. People are all so different. But I do believe everyone should have something from the 1960s or earlier, because the history behind each of these prints is half the beauty. Maybe a Grofe, the Flamingos or the Egrets, the delicate Hummingbirds, something from our Cottagecore Collection (I especially love that these pieces are by a female American artist whose signature is hidden within most of them), or even one of the grand Schenk florals — all with their own stories to tell.
When It All Began
My dad in the early 1980s, at one of our very first in-person setups for Pink Flamingos Inc. — back when everything was done by hand and in person. I’m not sure if this was a trade show, a rented space, or even our old Victorian — but you can feel the energy and care behind it.
A rare glimpse behind the curtain: This 1980s Turner Manufacturing auction flyer listed original wall art inventory up for sale — including the Pink Flamingos, Cockatoos, and Egrets that would later become part of our collection. My parents were there in person, standing in front of the original paintings that had inspired decades of reprints.
Some finds you never forget. “We were at Turner Manufacturing,” my parents remember, “and we were shown the actual original oil on plywood paintings of A. T. Toran’s Pink Flamingos, Cockatoos and Egrets. We were blown away… and with some back and forth, they were ours… incredible!”
It’s moments like that — standing in front of the originals that inspired so many reprints — that remind us how lucky we are to protect these pieces of history.
Back then, finding vintage art wasn’t about scrolling listings. “Tracking down companies that produced the great images from our favorite era, including Turner Manufacturing and Goes (both out of Chicago) and Catalda Fine Arts in New York. And we did this before the internet.”
No search bars, no next-day shipping — just stacks of catalogs, phone calls, many, many letters, and hope you’d reach the right person at the other end of the line.
Advertising in the Pre-Internet Era
A vintage trade ad for Pink Flamingos, used to promote our artwork in the days before online selling. Ads like this helped connect us with decorators and collectors across the country, one printed page at a time.
Yes, that’s us in Playboy — a small spotlight that showed how far our artwork had traveled, from dusty print runs to glossy magazine spreads. Proof that even the Flamingos had a little flair for the dramatic.
Before selling online, Pink Flamingos was promoted through direct mailers, trade publications, and magazine advertisements — including a small feature in Playboy. These ads helped introduce our prints to vintage lovers and interior decorators across the country, one glossy page at a time.
Bringing Pink Flamingos Online
When eBay came along, it changed everything. “At the time, eBay was the first real internet platform for offering our images online. It was the best way to reach collectors all over the world, instead of trade shows and antique publications.”
Before that, my parents packed prints into a portfolio carrier and brought them to local shops. One shop owner loved them — but only wanted them on consignment and only if he had exclusive rights in the area. Instead, they took a chance on eBay. Every Monday, they’d load the auctions. Every Saturday, they’d close them. Then came the checks in the mail, the tubes, the flats packed with cardboard — all tracked by hand. “It was a very stressful process… I’m sure this is much easier today.”
It is. But the same collectors who found us then are still part of our story now.
Keeping the Legacy Alive
“We saved some truly special prints from 50 to 80 years ago. We have been able to share our passion with so many like-minded collectors, filling countless homes with these incredible prints.”
I’m proud to be a continuing part of this legacy. These prints could have ended up in a dumpster, lost to time or decay — but instead, they’ve been kept safe and untouched. The biggest challenge for me is helping people see through their computer or phone screen what they really are: mint-condition vintage prints, not modern reprints or aged copies. They’re true originals — printed decades ago, never displayed, never framed, never unwrapped until now. They’re tiny time capsules, and we’re just the stewards.
Walking through shelves stacked with sealed brown Kraft paper packages, I knew as a kid that I’d inherit these prints someday. Two years into relaunching Pink Flamingos online, it’s still a dream come true to bring them into the 21st century for new collectors to discover and love.
Every print is shipped from my garage, where rows of original 1930s–1970s stock remain wrapped in the same kraft paper my parents received them in decades ago. Some packages have been carefully reinforced over time, but many remain just as they were — untouched, unopened, and perfectly preserved.
A Birthday Surprise for Collectors: Three Special Launches
This month, we’re marking a milestone. Some of our prints — like the Harry Lane florals — are turning 80 years old. And to celebrate, we’re opening up three very special releases from our archives:
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Our new Landscapes & Cityscapes collection — From quiet country bridges to lively European streets, these vintage prints capture timeless views with classic charm. One noteworthy inclusion is West Park, a 1950 cityscape by German Expressionist Max Beckmann. I wanted to include this piece as a thoughtful nod to my German colleagues, who may find its history and artistic heritage especially meaningful.
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A newly unveiled floral still life from 1948 — Basket of Flowers No. 1, a richly detailed chromolithograph published by Catalda Fine Arts, is a standout piece we’ve held for decades. Printed over 75 years ago and a reproduction of French artwork from the 17th century, its soft brushwork and vibrant composition make it a rare find for floral art lovers.
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Pink Flamingos Picks — Our new Favorites Collection curated from the prints that have meant the most to us over the years — both personally and among collectors — this collection celebrates the enduring appeal of true vintage wall art.
Each of these pieces is 50 to 80 years old, never displayed, and finally ready to find new walls, fresh frames, and a second life in modern homes.
Explore What’s New →
Shop Pink Flamingos Picks →
Whether you’ve been with us since the early eBay days or just discovered Pink Flamingos today, we’re so glad you’re here. We hope you find something that speaks to you — and helps keep these treasures alive for generations to come.