PITTSBURGH, PA.- The Andy Warhol Museum, in partnership with KIWI Arts Group, presents William John Kennedy: The Warhol Museum Edition. This box set (in an edition of 50) features five signed and numbered photographs of Andy Warhol (1928-1987) in 1964, just prior to the Silver Factory era. The portfolio’s specially designed aluminum archival box includes a foreword written by The Warhol Museum’s Director Eric Shiner and an introduction by esteemed art historian Thomas E. Crow. Essays contributed by Nicholas Chambers, Milton Fine curator of art at The Warhol, and Matt Wrbican, The Warhol’s chief archivist, historically contextualizing the rare moments captured by Kennedy are also included. In April of this year, it was announced that 100 signed and numbered photographs from the William John Kennedy archives would become part of the museum’s permanent collection as a gift from KIWI Arts Group, as well as plans for a future exhibition at The Warhol.
Eric Shiner states, “We are extremely excited to be working with KIWI Arts Group on the production of this portfolio of previously unreleased images to benefit The Warhol. KIWI has already been very generous in making a gift of a set of these amazing William John Kennedy photographs to the museum. With this rare body of work, Kennedy has given us some of the most joyous and insightful images of Andy Warhol ever created.”
The images, discovered in storage after nearly 50 years, feature Warhol with some of his most important work of the early ‘60s: Marilyn, Birmingham Race Riot, American Man, Self-Portrait and Flowers. The edition includes four black and white gelatin silver prints, one chromogenic color print, along with the foreword, introduction and five essays. Each photograph and essay in the aluminum case is presented in a distinctive oversized format of 22” x 28”.
“I’m grateful for the unique collaboration with The Andy Warhol Museum’s team, which has resulted in the creation of this historically significant portfolio, while raising funds for the museum,” stated KIWI Arts Group founder Michael Huter. “In 1964, Kennedy's lens presciently captured a rare behind-the-scenes narrative, underscoring a pivotal period that clearly reveals fresh insight into the genius of a younger Warhol.”
William John Kennedy: The Warhol Museum Edition is organized for The Warhol by Patrick Moore, deputy director at the museum. Before starting at The Warhol, Moore organized two successful print portfolios, The Geldzahler Portfolio and 1989, which raised funds for The Estate Project, which benefits artists with AIDS. The Geldzahler Portfolio featured specially commissioned works by Frank Stella, James Rosenquist, Louise Bourgeois, David Hockney, Ellsworth Kelly, Jasper Johns, and Roy Lichtenstein among others. 1989 included work from Chuck Close, Nan Goldin, Cindy Sherman, and Kiki Smith as well as several other leading contemporary artists.
William John Kennedy (1930-), studied at Syracuse University, the School of Visual Arts, and Pratt Institute. As a young photographer in New York, Kennedy learned the art of storytelling through his experience as studio manager for Clifford Coffin, one of Vogue Magazine’s most celebrated photographers. Kennedy continued to enjoy a rewarding career photographing creative campaigns for American Express, GE, IBM, RJR Nabisco, Avon, and Xerox and for major publications around the world including Life Magazine, Sports Illustrated and others. A selection of Kennedy's rare Andy Warhol and Robert Indiana images premiered during Art Basel Miami Beach 2010.
