looks like this has developed from an earlier story:
Now, the self-described "fine pop" artist (and 2003 Daily News "Sexy Single") has tapped into the city's latest obsession: the impending visit of Pope Francis for the World Meeting of Families on Sept. 26 and 27.
Milou, 47, has turned his six paintings into thousands of prints, calendars, mugs, plates, note cards, prayer cards, magnets, Christmas ornaments, and T-shirts to be sold online and through local retailers (though a hoped-for deal with the QVC shopping channel fell through). And he's licensed the image to the World Meeting of Families as the official portrait to be used on the organization's own merchandise, by way of retail vendor Aramark.
He searched online for the pontiff, "probably printed out 200 photos, and pinned them up."
He said each painting is based on multiple photos - though each of three of them appears closely based on a single photo of the pope distributed by Getty Images or Reuters. Milou said he did not have a license to use the source photos but didn't require one. A spokesperson for Getty said the matter was being investigated; Reuters and the Italian photographers who took the images did not respond to requests for comment.
"People are coming out of the woodwork, so I have to be very careful who I partner with," he said. "The art is very pure."
He's been calling the image of a papal air-kiss his "million-dollar painting."
"I'm a pretty savvy guy and I know that's a sexy number," he said. "To me what I'm creating here now is a very powerful message that's right in tune with [the pope's] delivery. And that's why I can justify asking that much money for the works. To give back. To, 100 percent, give back."
In his initial call for purchasers, he promised to 75 percent give back: $250,000 to the Mural Arts Program and $500,000 to the charity of the buyer's choice. Now, he said, he's stepping back from that and leaving the terms of a sale open ended. He thinks a corporate foundation would be the most likely buyer.
So, is he an artist or a businessman?
"That's a good question," he said. "I'm an artist first, but I'm an excellent businessman."
speaking of which, anyone see that t-shirt guy in the Inquirer proudly displaying his Pope t-shirts that use a version of the Philadelphia Eagles logo? maybe the Church is a flexible with trademarks and IP, but aside from Getty Images, thats something maybe that the NFL licensing legal team wouldnt be too happy about.