The magic of New York nightlife and Hollywood charm is coming to Los Angeles.
The renowned Hotel Bel-Air is set to present a showcase that features dozens of never-before-seen Andy Warhol photography from the James R. Hedges IV Collection of Andy Warhol Photography.
The show, opening on Feb. 14 and running until April. 14, will be located in the hotel’s lobby and suite 361. The presentation will be free to the public and open seven days a week. You can purchase any of the works through the hotel’s concierge.
It will include polaroids, photo booth strips, screen tests, silver gelatin prints and more of Warhol’s work that was captured during the last decade of his life. You can admire his pieces of celebrity portraits, Hollywood stars, Studio 54 memories and still-life photographs.
On top of Warhol’s grand collection will be Maripol’s seven most impressive pieces of work in vast scale. As ‘the gatekeeper of 80s club culture,’ Maripol’s polished Polaroid images of several inspirations detail one of the most vital times for artists in New York City.
The show will display a limited edition of Maripol’s most gleaming subjects and a remarkable view into Warhol’s mind and daily life during these times.
Since Warhol’s death in 1987, Hedges has come by a grand collection of his work from either Warhol’s estate and foundation or from close representatives of Warhol’s intimate circle, including Pat Hackett, The Andy Warhol Diaries editor.
Throughout almost the entirety of Warhol’s adult life he took his camera with him everywhere he went and called it “his date.” The majority of his artwork was his way of recording his life, friends and associates.
He began his photography journey using a Polaroid camera and then started to experiment with film to create short portraits he called “screen-tests” by the 1960s. His work later in life consisted of narrative feature films.
This collection, the largest of its kind in private hands in the world, encaptures an exceptional array of work that will give you a new perspective and a great measure of fame and glamour. The past, present and powerful future of art and photography is something to be celebrated by all.