Big Shots: Andy Warhol, Celebrity Culture, and the 1980s

Exhibition

Susan Earle, curator

August 15, 2009–January 24, 2010

North Balcony, Spencer Museum of Art, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas

Big Shots highlights a recent gift from the Andy Warhol Foundation of rarely seen photographs by Warhol, dating from 1970 to 1986, presented within the context of the dynamic period of art and cultural production during which they were made. The photographs include “celebrity” portraits shot as black-and-white prints or as unique color Polaroids using the eccentric Big Shot camera that Warhol made famous.

In light of Warhol’s near iconic status and his views on the topic of fame, the exhibition features artists and other celebrities in New York City during the late 1970s and early 1980s, looking at the interconnections between Warhol’s Factory, performance art, the underground music club scene, punk and new wave, and the cult of celebrity.

True to the spirit of this intermingling of different art forms and social interactions, the exhibition encompasses a variety of media. There will be photographs, prints, posters, music, and music videos. There also may be a vintage Photo-Mat booth to allow visitors to shoot self-portraits and enjoy their own “15 minutes of fame.”

Artists in addition to Warhol include Diane Arbus, Robert Mapplethorpe, Laurie Anderson, Andres Serrano, Keith Haring, Martha Rosler, Tseng Kwong Chi, Larry Fink, and Bud Lee, among others. Celebrities and culture-producers portrayed include Mick Jagger, Patti Smith, William Burroughs, Joseph Kosuth, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Calvin Klein, Brooke Shields, Iris Love, Victor Hugo, Cherry Vanilla, Carmen d’Alessio, and punk rocker/New Waver David Yarritu, among others.

Exhibition images

Works of art

Portrait of Rauschenberg, Andy Warhol (1928–1987) — Andy Warhol (1928–1987)

Portrait of Rauschenberg, 1962

Flowers, Andy Warhol (1928–1987) — Andy Warhol (1928–1987)

Flowers, 1964

Liz, Andy Warhol (1928–1987) — Andy Warhol (1928–1987)

Liz, 1964

Personality of the Artist, Gene Swenson (1934–1969) — Gene Swenson (1934–1969)

Personality of the Artist, 1962

Mick Jagger No. 2, Billy Higgins — Billy Higgins

Mick Jagger No. 2, 1975

The Burtons, Academy Awards, Robert Cumming (1943–2021) — Robert Cumming (1943–2021)

The Burtons, Academy Awards, 1978

Leo Castelli: He is the giver of Pop; money made in mockery; the painter as anti-Hero; Power., Hans Namuth (1915–1990) — Hans Namuth (1915–1990)

Leo Castelli: He is the giver of Pop; money made in mockery; the painter as anti-Hero; Power., circa 1964

Self-portrait, Andy Warhol (1928–1987) — Andy Warhol (1928–1987)

Self-portrait, 1968

Ugly is Beautiful [Geoffery Outlaw], Bud Lee (1941–2015) — Bud Lee (1941–2015)

Ugly is Beautiful [Geoffery Outlaw], 1969

Anything Goes, Bud Lee (1941–2015) — Bud Lee (1941–2015)

Anything Goes, 1969

Come to Your Senses [Tisa Farrow], Bud Lee (1941–2015) — Bud Lee (1941–2015)

Come to Your Senses [Tisa Farrow], 1969

"Relaxing with Photographer Saul Leiter after a modeling session, Jane Fonda delights in spoofing the exaggerated contortions of glamour photography", Saul Leiter (1923–2013) — Saul Leiter (1923–2013)

"Relaxing with Photographer Saul Leiter after a modeling session, Jane Fonda delights in spoofing the exaggerated contortions of glamour photography", 1960

Mick Jagger, Kevin Lawrenson (died 1979) — Kevin Lawrenson (died 1979)

Mick Jagger, 1969

Kimiko Powers, Andy Warhol (1928–1987) — Andy Warhol (1928–1987)

Kimiko Powers, 1971–1972

Legs on a Wall, New York City, Elliott Erwitt (1928–2023) — Elliott Erwitt (1928–2023)

Legs on a Wall, New York City, 1978

New York City, Garry Winogrand (1928–1984) — Garry Winogrand (1928–1984)

New York City, 1972

Lillian and Dorothy Gish, eleventh-generation Americans and renowned film stars of Orphans of the Storm and Way Down East, Diane Arbus (1923–1971); Neil Selkirk (born 1947) — Diane Arbus (1923–1971); Neil Selkirk (born 1947)

Lillian and Dorothy Gish, eleventh-generation Americans and renowned film stars of Orphans of the Storm and Way Down East, 1964

untitled, Christopher Knowles (born 1959) — Christopher Knowles (born 1959)

untitled, circa 1980

On the Cusp of the Eighties, Martha Rosler (born 1943) — Martha Rosler (born 1943)

On the Cusp of the Eighties, circa 1980

untitled, Benno Friedman (born 1945) — Benno Friedman (born 1945)

untitled, circa 1980

untitled, Laurie Anderson (born 1947) — Laurie Anderson (born 1947)

untitled, circa 1980

untitled, Betsey Johnson (born 1942) — Betsey Johnson (born 1942)

untitled, circa 1980

William and Patti, Robert Mapplethorpe (1949–1989) — Robert Mapplethorpe (1949–1989)

William and Patti, circa 1977

Club Cornich, NYC, Larry Fink (born 1941) — Larry Fink (born 1941)

Club Cornich, NYC, 1977

COKE label, Keith Haring (1958–1990) — Keith Haring (1958–1990)

COKE label, 1985

William Burroughs, Robert Mapplethorpe (1949–1989) — Robert Mapplethorpe (1949–1989)

William Burroughs, 1979

untitled (Elvis gallery poster), Andy Warhol (1928–1987) — Andy Warhol (1928–1987)

untitled (Elvis gallery poster), date unknown

Marlise Schleh, Andy Warhol (1928–1987) — Andy Warhol (1928–1987)

Marlise Schleh, 1980

Caroline Ireland, Andy Warhol (1928–1987) — Andy Warhol (1928–1987)

Caroline Ireland, 1978

Matilda Basquiat, Andy Warhol (1928–1987) — Andy Warhol (1928–1987)

Matilda Basquiat, 1984

Mirja Sachs, Andy Warhol (1928–1987) — Andy Warhol (1928–1987)

Mirja Sachs, 1984

Pia Miller, Andy Warhol (1928–1987) — Andy Warhol (1928–1987)

Pia Miller, 1985

Jean-Michel Basquiat, Andy Warhol (1928–1987) — Andy Warhol (1928–1987)

Jean-Michel Basquiat, 1983

Linda Cossey (And Her Camera), Andy Warhol (1928–1987) — Andy Warhol (1928–1987)

Linda Cossey (And Her Camera), 1980

Barbara Allen, Andy Warhol (1928–1987) — Andy Warhol (1928–1987)

Barbara Allen, 1977

Joan Collins, Andy Warhol (1928–1987) — Andy Warhol (1928–1987)

Joan Collins, 1985

Rhonda Ross, Andy Warhol (1928–1987) — Andy Warhol (1928–1987)

Rhonda Ross, 1981

Wayne Gretzky, Andy Warhol (1928–1987) — Andy Warhol (1928–1987)

Wayne Gretzky, 1983

Joe Eula, Andy Warhol (1928–1987) — Andy Warhol (1928–1987)

Joe Eula, 1977

Gerard Basquiat, Andy Warhol (1928–1987) — Andy Warhol (1928–1987)

Gerard Basquiat, 1984

Ernesto Esposito, Andy Warhol (1928–1987) — Andy Warhol (1928–1987)

Ernesto Esposito, 1986

Joseph Kosuth, Andy Warhol (1928–1987) — Andy Warhol (1928–1987)

Joseph Kosuth, 1974

unidentified man (from group of three men), Andy Warhol (1928–1987) — Andy Warhol (1928–1987)

unidentified man (from group of three men), 1985

three unidentified men, Andy Warhol (1928–1987) — Andy Warhol (1928–1987)

three unidentified men, 1985

Jeanine Basquiat, Andy Warhol (1928–1987) — Andy Warhol (1928–1987)

Jeanine Basquiat, 1985

Leah and Tora Bonnier, Andy Warhol (1928–1987) — Andy Warhol (1928–1987)

Leah and Tora Bonnier, 1980

unidentified boy (striped shirt), Andy Warhol (1928–1987) — Andy Warhol (1928–1987)

unidentified boy (striped shirt), 1986

Japanese Toy, Andy Warhol (1928–1987) — Andy Warhol (1928–1987)

Japanese Toy, 1983

Candy Box, Andy Warhol (1928–1987) — Andy Warhol (1928–1987)

Candy Box, 1981

Carmen D'Alessio, Andy Warhol (1928–1987) — Andy Warhol (1928–1987)

Carmen D'Alessio, 1976–1987

Cherry Vanilla, Andy Warhol (1928–1987) — Andy Warhol (1928–1987)

Cherry Vanilla, 1976–1987

Jon Gould, Andy Warhol (1928–1987) — Andy Warhol (1928–1987)

Jon Gould, 1976–1987

Victor Hugo, Andy Warhol (1928–1987) — Andy Warhol (1928–1987)

Victor Hugo, 1982

Calvin Klein and Brooke Shields, Andy Warhol (1928–1987) — Andy Warhol (1928–1987)

Calvin Klein and Brooke Shields, 1976–1987

Christopher Knowles and unidentified man, Andy Warhol (1928–1987) — Andy Warhol (1928–1987)

Christopher Knowles and unidentified man, 1976–1987

Chris Lawford and unidentified woman, Andy Warhol (1928–1987) — Andy Warhol (1928–1987)

Chris Lawford and unidentified woman, 1976–1987

Michelle Loud and Christopher Makos, Andy Warhol (1928–1987) — Andy Warhol (1928–1987)

Michelle Loud and Christopher Makos, 1976–1987

Iris Love and unidentified woman, Andy Warhol (1928–1987) — Andy Warhol (1928–1987)

Iris Love and unidentified woman, 1976–1987

Christopher O'Riley and Paige Powell, Andy Warhol (1928–1987) — Andy Warhol (1928–1987)

Christopher O'Riley and Paige Powell, 1976–1987

David Yarritu and unidentified man, Andy Warhol (1928–1987) — Andy Warhol (1928–1987)

David Yarritu and unidentified man, 1976–1987

Rupert Smith and unidentified man, Andy Warhol (1928–1987) — Andy Warhol (1928–1987)

Rupert Smith and unidentified man, 1981

André Leon Talley and unidentified man, Andy Warhol (1928–1987) — Andy Warhol (1928–1987)

André Leon Talley and unidentified man, 1982

unidentified man, Andy Warhol (1928–1987) — Andy Warhol (1928–1987)

unidentified man, 1976–1987

Bruno Bischofberger and man and woman, Andy Warhol (1928–1987) — Andy Warhol (1928–1987)

Bruno Bischofberger and man and woman, 1980

Steve Rubell, Monique Van Vooren, and unidentified man, Andy Warhol (1928–1987) — Andy Warhol (1928–1987)

Steve Rubell, Monique Van Vooren, and unidentified man, 1976–1987

Marilyn Karp, Andy Warhol (1928–1987) — Andy Warhol (1928–1987)

Marilyn Karp, 1974

Events

June 19–June 20, 2009

Workshop

2009 Kansas City Chalk and Walk Festival

11:00AM–8:00PM

August 20, 2009

Screening

Hawk Week Film: I Shot Andy Warhol

7:00–9:00PM

309 Auditorium

August 29, 2009

Workshop

Big Shots

1:30–3:30PM

Gallery 317 Central Court

September 17, 2009

Talk

Curator Susan Earle on Big Shots: Andy Warhol, Celebrity Culture, and the 1980s

12:00–1:00PM

Gallery 404

September 17–September 10, 2009

Social

Fall @ the Spencer

5:30–7:30PM

Gallery 317 Central Court

October 7, 2009

Talk

Eric C. Shiner on Andy Warhol: Consumption x Production

5:30–6:30PM

309 Auditorium

October 8, 2009

Social

SMA Student Night: WARhol & Peace

6:00–8:00PM

Gallery 317 Central Court

November 13, 2009

Talk

Andy Warhol, Celebrity Culture, and the 1980s

10:00–11:30AM

Gallery 404

Resources

Audio

Didactic – Art Minute

Episode 200 Sep-2009, Susan Earle I’m David Cateforis with another Art Minute from the Spencer Museum of Art. Joan Collins and Wayne Gretzky. Jean-Michel Basquiat and Liz Taylor. Chris Lawford and William S. Burroughs. These were among the many celebrities whose images Andy Warhol captured with either his Big Shot Polaroid or a pocket-sized 35mm camera. Now, those photographs come together at the Spencer in Big Shots: Andy Warhol, Celebrity Culture, and the 1980s. The exhibition, drawn entirely from the Spencer’s collection, highlights a recent gift from The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts of rarely seen Polaroid and gelatin silver print photographs by Warhol, dating from 1970 to 1986. The exhibition also features artists and other celebrities in New York City during this period, looking at the interconnections between Warhol’s studio, performance art, the club scene, punk and new wave, and the cult of celebrity. The exhibition encompasses a variety of media, and even has a vintage photobooth to allow visitors to shoot self-portraits and enjoy their own Warholian “15 minutes of fame.” With thanks to Susan Earle for her text, from the Spencer Museum of Art, I’m David Cateforis.

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Big Shots: Andy Warhol, Celebrity Culture, and the 1980s

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