Warhol, Minnelli, Basquiat: 4 Decades of Christopher Makos Imagery
| 04/04/22
"Andy and Liza Kissing", 1978 8 x 10” vintage gelatin silver print. Read more below.
Photographer Christopher Makos work has been defined, in part, by his reveling in the spirit of freedom, innovation, and creativity for half a century. "Dirty," a solo exhibition that Daniel Cooney Fine Art put on featuring mostly unseen work from every stage of the artist's life. The exhibit featured a selection of 40 vintage photographs, collages, and assemblages that celebrate the daring, decadent, and delectable moments of life with equal panache. Amongst those depicted: Andy Warhol, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Keith Haring, Debbie Harry, Patti Smith, Iggy Pop, Richard Hell, Liza Minnelli, and John Lennon alongside a swath of sumptuous male nudes and figurative studies. This is in addition to original contact sheets, vintage Polaroids, silver oxide prints, gelatin silver prints and collages.
The works featured in Dirty reflect the advice Makos received while apprenticing with Man Ray in Fregene, Italy, at the outset of his artistic journey in 1976 -- "Obey your instinct." Possessed with the innate gift to fuse art and cultural artifact in a singular work, Makos came to the notice of kindred spirit, Andy Warhol, and the two quickly became lifelong collaborators and confidantes. Makos taught Warhol photography; Warhol taught Makos the business of art. Together the dynamic duo would travel the globe, enjoying the pleasures of mutual camaraderie.
"Good Times", 1978 4 x 4” Unique vintage Polaroid
"Debbie Harry", 1987 Unique vintage gelatin silver print
"Keith Haring and Juan Dubose", 1980’s 8 x 10” vintage gelatin silver print
"Christopher Reeve, Superman", 1982 20 x 16” Unique vintage gelatin silver print
"Andy In Curly Wig Contact Sheet", 1981 Unique vintage gelatin silver print
"Willie Gault", early 80’s Unique vintage gelatin silver print
"Boy With Braces", 1978
"Andy Massage", 1983 10 x 8” Vintage gelatin silver print
"CBGB Collage (Richard Hell and Patti Smith)", 1977 8 x 10” Unique vintage gelatin silver print collage
"Keith Haring and Juan Dubose At The Piers", 1980’s 8 x 10” vintage gelatin silver print
"Christopher Reeve and Andy for Interview", 1982 10 x 8” Vintage gelatin silver print
"Cigarette Butts", 1976 4 x 4” Unique vintage Polaroid
"Craig Sheffer", 1980’s 10 x 8” Vintage gelatin silver print
"Debbie Harry At My Apartment, West Village", 1976 8 x 10” vintage gelatin silver print
"Andy Kissing Lennon", 1978 11 x 14” Vintage gelatin silver print
"Debbie Harry Stand Up", 1993 Four Unique vintage Polaroids
"Iggy Pop", 1981 8 x 10” unique vintage gelatin silver print with pencil markings
"Liza And Lennon Twice", 1978 8 x 10” Vintage Gelatin silver print
"Monique Van Vooren", 1978 4 x 4” Unique vintage Polaroid
"David Sabadera In Silver And Bronze" 10 x 8” Unique vintage silver oxide print
"Queenie", 1977 11 x 14” Vintage gelatin silver print
"Tattoo", 1976 4 x 4” Unique vintage Polaroid
"White Bikini, Miami", 1993 Four Unique vintage Polaroids
"Windsor Park, UK, 1991", Four unique 10 x 8” vintage gelatin silver prints (20 x 16” total)
"Side Eye", 2020
Christopher Makos is the author of 17 books including White Trash (1977), Warhol/Makos In Context (2007), Christopher Makos Polaroids (2009) and Everything: The Black and White Monograph (2014). His work has been published in Interview, Rolling Stone, House & Garden, Connoisseur, New York Magazine, Esquire, Genre and People. His works have been exhibited at the Tate Modern, London, The Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, The National Gallery, Washington, D.C., and The Guggenheim Museum, Bilbao.
