BARCELONA.- The Suñol Soler Collection presents a groundbreaking exhibition and documentary exploring Andy Warhol’s iconic 1983 visit to Madrid, organized by renowned art dealer Fernando Vijande. This dual tribute unveils the cultural impact of their collaboration and Warhol’s enduring influence on contemporary art.
A Dual Offering: Exhibition and Documentary
From December 4, 2024, to February 28, 2025, the Fundació Suñol in Barcelona will host Warhol-Vijande: More than Altered Images, a celebrated exhibition first launched at the Lázaro Galdiano Museum in Madrid. Accompanying the exhibition is a teaser for the upcoming documentary Warhol-Vijande: More than Guns, Knives, and Crosses, set for theatrical release in 2025. Through testimonies from Warhol’s circle in New York and witnesses to his Madrid visit, the documentary delves into the friendship between Warhol and Vijande, along with the cultural significance of Warhol’s journey to Spain.
The exhibition features 20 large-format photographs by Christopher Makos, offering an intimate portrait of Warhol. This collection, part of Makos’s Altered Images series, explores themes of identity and gender fluidity, presenting Warhol in vulnerable yet provocative light.
Warhol and Vijande: An Artistic Partnership
Warhol first met Fernando Vijande in the late 1960s at New York’s iconic The Factory. Their connection culminated in Warhol’s 1983 visit to Madrid, where he inaugurated the exhibition Guns, Knives, and Crosses, specially created for Vijande’s gallery. Accompanied by Fred Hughes and Christopher Makos, Warhol’s visit marked a milestone in Spain’s art history, blending American pop art with Madrid’s vibrant cultural scene.
The exhibition traces the genesis of their collaboration, which began in 1975 when Vijande acquired a large-format Mao portrait from Warhol’s 10 Early Maos series for Josep Suñol Soler’s collection. This acquisition catalyzed one of Spain’s most significant contemporary art collections. Warhol painted the Early Maos in 1972, marking his resurgence as a painter after surviving a near-fatal shooting in 1968. The series reflected critical political and historical contexts, solidifying Warhol’s reputation as a cultural commentator.
Vijande’s passion for Warhol extended to other works, including the Ladies and Gentlemen silkscreen series, which depicted New York’s drag and transgender performers. Created in collaboration with Italian dealer Anselmino, the series spotlighted marginalized communities, adding a racial dimension by featuring Black and Latino models from The Gilded Grape, a performance venue.
The Exhibition: A Multidimensional Journey
At the heart of the exhibition are 20 photographs from Makos’s Altered Images series, taken during a two-day session in June 1981. These images showcase Warhol experimenting with wigs, theatrical makeup, and his signature white shirt and jeans, exploring his identity through visual transformations. Makos described the collaboration as a “catalog of shifting identities,” emphasizing vulnerability, self-expression, and Warhol’s obsession with image and perception.
Additional highlights include the diptych portrait Fernando Vijande, created by Warhol at The Factory, which was part of the 1983 Madrid exhibition. Also featured are photographs by Pablo Pérez Mínguez, Javier Trillo, Teresa Nieto, and Javier Porto, offering a sociological lens on Warhol’s visit and his Guns, Knives, and Crosses exhibition.
The Legacy of Fernando Vijande
Fernando Vijande, a visionary gallerist, was instrumental in bridging the artistic worlds of New York and Madrid during the 1970s and 1980s. His galleries, Vandrés and later the Galería Fernando Vijande, became hubs for avant-garde art and cultural exchange. Known for fostering emerging Spanish talent like Muntadas and Zush, Vijande also introduced international icons such as Keith Haring and Robert Mapplethorpe to Spanish audiences.
In collaboration with Warhol, Vijande crafted an exhibition concept that blended Spanish historical motifs with pop art sensibilities. Drawing on imagery from the Inquisition, the Spanish Civil War, and Catholic iconography, the exhibition Guns, Knives, and Crosses resonated deeply with Madrid’s audience, capturing the tensions and transformations of the country’s cultural landscape during the Movida Madrileña.
Christopher Makos: The Modern Lens
A key contributor to the exhibition, photographer Christopher Makos was a close friend and collaborator of Warhol. Trained under Man Ray in Paris, Makos became a central figure at The Factory in the 1980s. His works, included in major institutions such as the Guggenheim Bilbao and Tate Modern, reflect his innovative approach to identity and representation.
In the Altered Images series, Makos drew inspiration from Man Ray’s portrait of Rose Sélavy, Marcel Duchamp’s female alter ego. Warhol’s participation in this project further explored themes of selfhood and transformation, offering a rare glimpse into the artist’s personal and artistic psyche.
Makos’s photographs, along with Warhol’s Ladies and Gentlemen silkscreens and Mario Banana film, emphasize the pop artist’s commitment to amplifying underrepresented voices. Warhol’s pioneering inclusion of transgender and drag performers in his work was revolutionary, providing visibility to marginalized communities long before mainstream acceptance.
A Celebration of Art and Identity
The Warhol-Vijande exhibition and documentary underscore the enduring legacy of two creative forces who transcended artistic and cultural boundaries. By revisiting Warhol’s visit to Madrid and his collaboration with Fernando Vijande, the Suñol Soler Collection invites audiences to reflect on the transformative power of art and its ability to challenge conventions.
With its exploration of identity, gender, and cultural exchange, this initiative captures Warhol’s visionary approach and Vijande’s role as a cultural bridge. Together, their work continues to inspire a new generation of artists and audiences, proving that art remains a vital force for social and personal transformation.
