Warhol's Dynamic Portraits of Beuys at Ely House, London
until 9 february 2024
Ely House, London
Image: Mimmo Jodice’s photo of Warhol and Beuys, 1980. Photo Razvan Chiorean gallery
This exhibition revisits Andy Warhol and Joseph Beuys' early meetings in 1979, showcasing a group of Warhol's acclaimed portraits of Beuys. While these portraits are housed in major institutions globally, including The Museum of Modern Art and Tate, this marks the first solo presentation since the 1980s.
Warhol's experimental techniques, seen in the Beuys portraits, highlight his innovative approach to materials, making him a key portraitist of the 20th century. The varied use of color, composition, and medium, including early experiments with diamond dust, adds diversity to this remarkable body of work.
Warhol and Beuys crossed artistic paths at a Düsseldorf exhibition, sparking a pivotal connection between American and European art giants. Their encounters unfolded, notably during Beuys's retrospective at the Guggenheim. Captivated by repetition, Warhol's 1983 canvas features Beuys replicated 64 times, a nod to his Reversals series.
The use of diamond dust adds a metaphysical layer, echoing Beuys's mystical persona. Warhol's iconic Beuys image, shot with a Polaroid, became the basis for screenprinted portraits, blending silkscreen methods with expressive hand-painting. Despite differing philosophies, both artists transformed everyday images and embraced self-stylization. Beuys, the shamanic figure, and Warhol, the 'Pope of Pop,' immortalized cultural icons, including Beuys himself, in the vibrant tapestry of 20th-century art.
Joseph Beuys (Reversal), 1983
Acrylic, silkscreen ink and diamond dust on canvas
213.4 x 177.8 cm (84 x 70 in)
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