Maya Ellison
The plastic flamingo, a classic American icon, was born in 1957. Designed by Don Featherstone, the plastic lawn flamingo has become synonymous with kitsch Americana. Featherstone's original design has spawned numerous imitations, and the plastic flamingo has multiplied well into the millions, with over 20 million pairs sold as of 2018. In 2022, Buffalo, New York, attempted a Guinness World Record with a line of 4,280 pink plastic flamingos.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Total plastic flamingo population | 20 million and increasing |
| Total wild flamingo population | 200,000 and declining |
| Plastic flamingos as a symbol | Kitsch, bad taste, cheapness |
| Plastic flamingos sold in pairs | One standing upright, the other with its head low as if "feeding" |
| Plastic flamingos sold as of 2018 | Over 20 million pairs |
| Plastic flamingos sold per pair in the 1950s | $2.76 |
| Plastic flamingos designed by | Don Featherstone |
| Plastic flamingos designed in | 1956 or 1957 |
| Plastic flamingos designed in the city of | Leominster, Massachusetts |
| Plastic flamingos designed for the company | Union Products |
| Plastic flamingos designer inspired by | Carleton Mitchell and B. Anthony Stewart's article, "Ballerinas in Pink" in National Geographic Magazine, October 1957 |
| Plastic flamingos designer's alma mater | Worcester Art Museum's art school |
| Plastic flamingos designer's former profession | Industrial designer |
| Plastic flamingos designer's former employer | Union Products |
| Plastic flamingos designer's former job | Sculpting three-dimensional versions of the company's two-dimensional products |
| Plastic flamingos longest line record | 4,280 flamingos in Buffalo, New York |
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What You'll Learn
Don Featherstone's design
Don Featherstone's plastic flamingo design was hatched in 1957, the brainchild of a serious sculptor and classical art student who needed a job. After graduating from art school, Featherstone took a position with Union Products, a New England plastics company, to sculpt three-dimensional versions of the company's most popular two-dimensional products: the duck and the flamingo.
Featherstone's flamingo was based on photographs of flamingos from National Geographic, as he was unable to obtain real flamingos to use as models. The original design was named Diego, and retailed at $2.76 a pair. Featherstone's flamingos were mass-produced by Union Products, and the design has since become an icon of pop culture. The artist won the Ig Nobel Prize for Art in 1996 for his creation, which has been reproduced more than 20 million times.
Featherstone's flamingos are a barometer of taste, a symbol of kitsch, and a symbol of LGBTQ+ pride. They have been used in art exhibits and have appeared across the world. Featherstone himself admitted that the flamingo's reputation as a symbol of kitsch was an important ingredient in its success. "We sold people tropical elegance in a box for less than $10," he told the Chicago Tribune in 2007, "Before that, only the wealthy could afford to have bad taste."
The popularity of Featherstone's design has endured, with flocks of plastic flamingos sometimes appearing in people's yards as a surprise for a birthday or holiday. The design has also been used as the logo for the city of Madison, Wisconsin's soccer club, Forward Madison FC.
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The original 1957 flamingos
The original plastic flamingo was designed by Don Featherstone in 1957. Featherstone was a classical art student and serious sculptor who, after graduating from art school, had limited job offers. He was offered a job with Union Products (also known as Union Productions) to sculpt three-dimensional versions of the company's most popular two-dimensional products: the duck and the flamingo.
Facing limited options, Featherstone chose the plastics company over becoming a starving artist. His first assignment was to sculpt a plastic duck, for which he bought a live duck to model for him. He named the duck Charlie and later set him free in Cogshall Park in Fitchburg, Massachusetts.
For his next task, Featherstone had to design a pink flamingo. He did not have access to a live flamingo, so he studied photographs of the tropical bird in National Geographic magazine. It took him about two weeks to model both halves of the flamingo, using then-revolutionary injection-mould technology. He named the first plastic flamingo Diego.
The original flamingos were sold in pairs, with one standing upright and the other with its head low to the ground, "feeding". Featherstone's lawn flamingo became mass-produced and has since become an icon of pop culture. It has been reproduced more than 20 million times and has even spawned a spoof lawn greeting industry that installs flocks of pink flamingos on people's lawns in the dark of night.
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Current population estimates
It is difficult to estimate the current population of plastic flamingos as they are mass-produced and widely available. However, some sources suggest that there are around 20 million plastic flamingos in the world, a number that is constantly increasing. This estimate dates back to 2019, when the total flamingo population (real flamingos) was estimated to be 200,000 and declining. This means that plastic flamingos outnumbered real flamingos by a ratio of 100:1.
The plastic flamingo was first designed in 1957 by American artist Don Featherstone, who worked for Union Products, a New England plastics company based in Leominster, Massachusetts. Featherstone's design has become an icon of pop culture, winning him the Ig Nobel Prize for Art in 1996. The original plastic flamingos were manufactured using injection mould technology, with each bird composed of two injection-molded halves that were glued together. In the early 1970s, Union Products switched to blow moulding technology, which uses compressed air to blow molten plastic into a mould.
Featherstone's plastic flamingos quickly gained popularity and became a common lawn ornament in the United States. In the media and fiction, they are often used as a symbol of kitsch, bad taste, and cheapness. The 1972 movie "Pink Flamingos" further solidified their association with lawn kitsch. The popularity of plastic flamingos has led to the emergence of a spoof lawn greeting industry that installs flocks of pink flamingos on people's lawns as a prank or surprise.
The exact number of plastic flamingos produced by Union Products is unknown, but it is estimated that over 20 million pairs were sold as of 2018, and sales are still going strong. In 2007, HMC International LLC purchased the copyright and plastic moulds of Featherstone's original design, continuing the production and distribution of these iconic lawn ornaments. While some consider plastic flamingos to be tacky, they have undoubtedly left their mark on popular culture, with the city of Madison, Wisconsin, even designating the plastic flamingo as its official bird.
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The 2022 Guinness World Record attempt
In June 2022, Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy attempted a Guinness World Record for the longest line of pink plastic flamingos in honour of Frederick Law Olmsted's 200th birthday. The attempt took place in Buffalo, New York, specifically at Front Park, with the goal of placing 4,260 flamingos to represent Olmsted's birthday on 26 April (4/26).
The pink plastic flamingos, which have become an icon of pop culture, were designed by Don Featherstone in 1957. Featherstone named the first flamingo Diego. Featherstone worked for Union Products, a New England plastics company based in Leominster, Massachusetts, which manufactured plastic lawn and garden decorations. The company mass-produced the lawn flamingo, which has since spawned a spoof lawn greeting industry that installs flocks of pink flamingos on people's lawns at night.
For the world record attempt, 4,280 plastic flamingos were laid in a line by over 100 volunteers. Each flamingo was numbered to ensure the correct number were placed in a consecutive line. The final count was confirmed by Guinness World Record Official Adjudicator Brittany Dunn.
The Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy's attempt follows a similar feat in 1993, when Mr Featherstone revealed that his plastic flamingos outnumbered real ones by 7 to 1.
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Plastic flamingos as kitsch
It is estimated that since their creation in the 1950s, over 30 million plastic flamingo lawn ornaments have been produced and sold worldwide. This iconic symbol of kitsch culture has an intriguing history and has come to represent more than just a garden decoration. Plastic flamingos are synonymous with a certain type of American aesthetic and have become an enduring symbol of mid-century design and taste.
The plastic flamingo, often referred to as "kitsch" or "tacky," has a unique place in the world of art and design. Kitsch is a German word that originally described second-rate, mass-produced art and literature. In the context of plastic flamingos, kitsch refers to the idea that these lawn ornaments are overly sentimental, gaudy, and lacking in genuine artistic value. They are seen as cheap imitations of natural beauty, and their mass production and widespread availability have contributed to their reputation as kitsch.
Despite, or perhaps because of, their kitsch status, plastic flamingos have become beloved icons of pop culture. They first appeared in the 1950s, a time when Americans were embracing new, synthetic materials and celebrating the post-war economic boom. The bright pink, larger-than-life birds represented a playful and exotic touch that people loved to add to their gardens and yards. Don Featherstone created the most famous version of the plastic flamingo, which was first sold in 1957 and is still produced today.
Over the years, plastic flamingos have appeared in numerous films, television shows, and art pieces, often as a symbol of American suburbia or as a tongue-in-cheek nod to kitsch culture. They have been embraced by subcultures and used ironically, and they continue to be a popular choice for those wanting to add a unique, quirky touch to their outdoor spaces. Whether loved or loathed, plastic flamingos have become an enduring symbol of American taste and a notable part of pop culture and design history.
The popularity of plastic flamingos and their enduring appeal can be attributed to several factors. Firstly, they tap into a sense of nostalgia, reminding people of a bygone era and a simpler time. Secondly, their bright, bold colors and playful design appeal to our desire to add a touch of whimsy and fun to our surroundings. Additionally, the kitsch and camp aesthetics have experienced a resurgence in recent years, with many people embracing and celebrating these once-derided styles. Finally, plastic flamingos are an affordable and easy way to make a statement, adding a unique and memorable touch to any outdoor space.
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Frequently asked questions
It is estimated that there are millions of plastic flamingos in the world. American artist Don Featherstone designed the pink lawn flamingo in 1957, and it has since been reproduced over 20 million times.
Featherstone drew inspiration from a photo spread featuring the birds in the October 1957 issue of National Geographic. He then sculpted a pair of flamingos, one standing upright and the other stooping as if feeding, from clay.
Yes, there are more plastic flamingos than real flamingos. There are just under 2 million flamingos in the wild, while plastic flamingos number in the millions.
Plastic flamingos are commonly found in the United States as lawn ornaments. They have also been used in media and fiction as symbols of kitsch, bad taste, and cheapness.
Plastic flamingos have become a part of American culture. They have been featured in films, used in gay pride parades, and even designated as the official bird of Madison, Wisconsin. They are also considered a symbol of LGBTQ+ pride.
