Andy Warhol’s Unseen Polaroids From 1970 to 1987

UC Berkeley Art Museum presents an installation of polaroids taken by Andy Warhol during the period of 1970 to 1987. The collection donated to the university museum is one of portraits depicting people of varied backgrounds including royalty, athletes, and musicians in addition to unknown individuals all photographed against a plain white backdrop. similar to the techniques of antiquated portraiture, several sitters are pictured with a prop indicative of their personality. The series of unknown photographs is comprised of Polaroids typically created as the framework for commissioned silkscreened portraits by the artist.

The casual relationship observed between the sitter and the photographer in this series was enhanced by Warhol dining with his subjects before beginning each photoshoot. The tight framing and nearness of each subject within the image enhances the quality of informal interaction between Warhol and the individuals whom he photographed.

Additionally, the series speaks to the artist’s fixation on the notions of art work as spectacle while investigating America’s definition of ‘high society’, which was changing rapidly when these images were captured.

(via designboom)