The Archival ‘Andy Warhol Row Boat’ is an exclusive limited edition black and white photographic print of the pop-art icon Andy Warhol, taken by Christopher Makos in 1982. The nostalgic...
The Archival ‘Andy Warhol Row Boat’ is an exclusive limited edition black and white photographic print of the pop-art icon Andy Warhol, taken by Christopher Makos in 1982. The nostalgic candid was taken of Warhol by Makos during a trip they took as close friends while exploring in France. The film photograph of Andy Warhol is expressive, relaxed, and captures the real life essence of the art world legend in a quiet moment. Makos' approach to photography has a photojournalistic element and while he and Warhol were on a row boat cruise along the lake, within the royal hunting grounds of Bois de Boulogne, the picture was taken 'in the moment'. Makos is reminiscent of the time they spent together and recounted the memory with a soft smile, “...I did all the rowing”. The archival pigment print on paper is a rare glimpse into the life of Andy Warhol and is a part of the Arton Contemporary exclusive edition of only ten in existence. The two were great friends and went on many adventures together over the years, which resulted in many candid images of the pop-art king that have not been publicly exhibited. Makos documented much of his life in the New York contemporary and pop art scenes through his photography with a photojournalistic eye and has captured a unique 'behind-the-scenes' perspective of the life and persona of many celebrities such as The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Keith Haring, Richard Hell, Debbie Harry, among many others throughout his career as a photographer. This archival pigment printed photograph is exceptionally rare, large in scale, and a piece of art history through the lens of one of Warhol's true friends. Capturing 'in the moment' candid images of street-artists, rockstars, icons and socialites, Chris Makos was dubbed by Warhol as "The most modern photographer in America" and gave Andy one of his first 'real' cameras to shoot with. The work is signed and numbered by the photographer on the lower front corners and arrives ready-to-install in a custom made white lacquer frame, with black mat underlay and hooks on reverse.
MAKOS, born in 1948, is an American photographer and artist. He spent his adolescence in California and as a young adult, moved to Paris, France to study Architecture. After extensive travelling throughout Europe, Makos became the apprentice of photographer Man Ray. During the great artist's last birthday celebrations in Italy, The master surrealist and friend of Duchamp took a special interest in Makos and shared many practical insights into his working method as a photographer. In 1977, Makos burst onto the photography scene with his book, ‘WHITE TRASH’. This raw, beautiful chronicle of the downtown NYC punk scene, interspersed with portraits of Uptown Boldface names, became a turning point for his career as a photographic journalist. Makos became close friends and collaborated extensively with Andy Warhol, whom he showed how to use his first camera. Warhol dubbed Makos the "most modern photographer in America" and his book, Warhol: A Photographic Memoir, details his extensive travels and friendship with the Pop Art Superstar. Later, Makos introduced Warhol to the work of both Jean-Michel Basquiat and Keith Haring, connecting the major players of the contemporary art world. Makos continued to document the New York scene throughout the 1980’s using his Interview Magazine "IN" column to present up and coming stars such as Matt Dillon, Christian Slater, Robert Downey JR. and Tom Ford. Makos then began his long term love affair with Spain, where he continues to be a regular in Madrid. His portraits of Pedro Almodovar, Agatha Ruiz de la Prada, Bibi Andersen and Miguel Bose helped identify La Movida. Makos has developed his distinctive photographic style to take legendary photographs of the world’s most famous icons, including portraits of Keith Haring, Andy Warhol, Elizabeth Taylor, Salvador Dali, John Lennon, Tennessee Williams and Mick Jagger. Makos's work has been in the permanent collections of more than 100 museums and major private collections, including those of Malcolm Forbes, Pedro Almodóvar, and Gianni Versace. Makos’s photographs have been the subject of numerous exhibitions both in galleries and museums throughout the United States, Europe and Japan and have appeared in countless magazines and newspapers worldwide. His photographs have been published in Interview, Rolling Stone, House & Garden, Connoisseur, New York Magazine, Esquire, Genre and People, among many others. The beloved portrait of Warhol wrapped in a flag was featured on the front cover of the Spring 1990 issue of the Smithsonian Studies. Makos’s latest projects include a book of hid SX 70 Polaroids, with an essay by his friend Calvin Klein. LADY WARHOL, published this fall, presents 120 portraits of Andy in various wigs and make-up guises from the 1981 two-day Makos shoot they conceived as an homage to Man Ray's Rose Selavy collaboration. Christopher Makos has truly become a seminal figure in the contemporary art scene in New York over the past 40 years to present day.
To learn more about our exclusive collaboration with photographer Christopher Makos, please visit our website: www.artoncontemporary.com