Gagosian Show highlights Andy Warhol's links to Paris and fashion
PARIS — Fashion and fame were two of Andy Warhol's main obsessions — and in Paris, the king of pop Art has found fertile ground for both.
Warhol may be forever identified with New York and his Factory studio, but he also been celebrated in the French capital, where he was a frequent visitor. The American artist for a while kept an apartment in the left bank district of Saint-Germain-des-Près, and even enlisted Karl Lagerfeld to appear in his underground film "L'Amour".
A new exhibition at the Gagosian gallery near Place Vendôme highlights Warhol's view of Paris and its links with fashion, with portraits of famous designers such as Hubert de Givenchy, Sonia Rykiel and Azzedine Alaïa.
Related Galleries"Andy Warhol: Paris and Fashion", which runs until October 12, features 40 photographs ranging from his iconic Polaroid portraits of celebrities, which he used as the basis for silkscreen paintings, to improvised black-and-white photographs of Parisian landmarks, often taken from the back of a car.
Like a time capsule, they provide a snapshot of his life on both sides of the Atlantic, capturing events like a dinner with Diane de Beauvau-Craon, the socialite known as the "punk princess", or a visit to Hubert de Givenchy's studio with patron São Schlumberger.
"Warhol had a very acute perception of Parisian fashion, having had close ties with fashion throughout throughout her career,” said Serena Cattaneo Adorno, Gagosian Paris Galleries Director.
"His vision was obviously influenced by his friendship with famous designers with whom he shared moments intimate," she says, pointing to a Polaroid he took on vacation in Morocco with Yves Saint Laurent and his partner Pierre Bergé.
"That said, he was also interested in emerging designers," added Cattaneo Adorno, noting that The exhibit features images of Diane von Furstenberg, Jean Paul Gaultier and Stephen Sprouse where they were in their early thirties. "He was already close to all these creators long before they became extremely famous."
Images are from a private collection. "What is exceptional is to bring together so many emblematic shots of Paris and fashion personalities in the same exhibition", she believes.
As Polaroids capture iconic designers like Giorgio Armani and Carolina Herrera in captivating poses, a large part of Warhol's photography has a disposable side, explained by his documentary approach. “An image means I know where I was every minute. That's why I take pictures. It's a visual diary,” he once said.
PARIS — Fashion and fame were two of Andy Warhol's main obsessions — and in Paris, the king of pop Art has found fertile ground for both.
Warhol may be forever identified with New York and his Factory studio, but he also been celebrated in the French capital, where he was a frequent visitor. The American artist for a while kept an apartment in the left bank district of Saint-Germain-des-Près, and even enlisted Karl Lagerfeld to appear in his underground film "L'Amour".
A new exhibition at the Gagosian gallery near Place Vendôme highlights Warhol's view of Paris and its links with fashion, with portraits of famous designers such as Hubert de Givenchy, Sonia Rykiel and Azzedine Alaïa.
Related Galleries"Andy Warhol: Paris and Fashion", which runs until October 12, features 40 photographs ranging from his iconic Polaroid portraits of celebrities, which he used as the basis for silkscreen paintings, to improvised black-and-white photographs of Parisian landmarks, often taken from the back of a car.
Like a time capsule, they provide a snapshot of his life on both sides of the Atlantic, capturing events like a dinner with Diane de Beauvau-Craon, the socialite known as the "punk princess", or a visit to Hubert de Givenchy's studio with patron São Schlumberger.
"Warhol had a very acute perception of Parisian fashion, having had close ties with fashion throughout throughout her career,” said Serena Cattaneo Adorno, Gagosian Paris Galleries Director.
"His vision was obviously influenced by his friendship with famous designers with whom he shared moments intimate," she says, pointing to a Polaroid he took on vacation in Morocco with Yves Saint Laurent and his partner Pierre Bergé.
"That said, he was also interested in emerging designers," added Cattaneo Adorno, noting that The exhibit features images of Diane von Furstenberg, Jean Paul Gaultier and Stephen Sprouse where they were in their early thirties. "He was already close to all these creators long before they became extremely famous."
Images are from a private collection. "What is exceptional is to bring together so many emblematic shots of Paris and fashion personalities in the same exhibition", she believes.
As Polaroids capture iconic designers like Giorgio Armani and Carolina Herrera in captivating poses, a large part of Warhol's photography has a disposable side, explained by his documentary approach. “An image means I know where I was every minute. That's why I take pictures. It's a visual diary,” he once said.
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