Andy Warhol ‘Social Media’ photography exhibition shows his passion for cameras
Andy Warhol’s creative endeavors didn’t stop at canvas and paint, best known for his brightly colored pop art pieces. Although he is not as well known for his photographic pursuits as for his paintings, Warhol was also a valiant hand behind the lens. Some of his most striking works will be featured in ‘Andy Warhol & Photography: A Social Media’, an exhibition taking place at the Art Gallery of South Australia.
Throughout the seventies and eighties, Warhol was often found with a camera in hand. Whether he was working in his studio taking pictures of Farrah Fawcett and Debbie Harry, or documenting his close circle of friends such as John Lennon, Liza Minnelli, Elizabeth Taylor and Jackie O, Warhol’s work provided a snapshot of his life and that captured from his celebrity cohorts. .
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Warhol’s approach to photography, like his art, was outside the box. He was always looking for ways to reinvent the wheel, whether it was by taking portraits with a photo booth, capturing friends participating in everyday beauty rituals, or capturing one of Hollywood’s most famous faces in the most unlikely of circumstances. paint colors.
Liza Minnelli, 1978, New York, Polaroid (Image credit: © Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, Inc. ARS/Copyright Agency)
From 3 March to 14 May 2023, Warhol’s photographic work will be on display at the Art Gallery of South Australia alongside an extensive program of talks, live music and tours curated by the gallery’s senior curator, Julie Robinson.
His longtime friend and fellow photographer, Christopher Makos, flies in from New York to offer some personal insight into Warhol’s life. He will reminisce about the days they spent together at Broadway’s legendary Studio 54 theater and nightclub, the hours passed in Warhol’s studio, and how the artist always had a camera by his side.
In a gallery debut, on the first Friday of each month visitors can enjoy a themed program inspired by Warhol’s life and art and participate in interactive activities based on 15 minutes of fame, saints and sinners, and in the spotlight.
Debbie Harry, 1980, New York, Polaroid (Image credit: © Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, Inc. ARS/Copyright Agency)
Other highlights during the exhibition include a talk on Andy Warhol and the Queer Gaze, An Evening with Henry Gillespie (Warhol’s famous Australian nanny) and Supersaturate – an after-hours event just for teenagers aged 13-17 who want to walk away with a souvenir of the evening.
Despite living many years before the age of smartphones and social media, Warhol was undoubtedly one of the world’s first influencers – and his collection of Polaroids and prints is his tangible Instagram account, where he captures the everyday and magical moments that he shared with friends, captured.
Although the event is ticketed, with prices starting at AU$10 for a child and up to AU$25 for an adult, all the talks, workshops and events taking place as part of the exhibition are free to attend. Click here for details and ticket information (opens in new tab).
Self-portrait no.9, 1986, New York, synthetic polymer paint and screenprint on canvas (Image credit: © Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, Inc. ARS/Copyright Agency)
Andy Warhol, 1986, New York, gelatin silver photograph (Image credit: Andy Warhol / National Gallery of Australia, Canberra)
Bianca Jagger at Halston’s house, New York, no. 1 from the portfolio Photographs, 1976 (Image credit: © Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, Inc. ARS/Copyright Agency)
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