Before They Were Famous: Behind The Lens Of William John Kennedy

1/28/2012 - 3/10/2012

Opening Night Exhibition
Saturday, January 28, 2012 from 7:30-10 pm
Artist Reception with William John and Marie Kennedy: 8-9 pm

American fine art photographer William John Kennedy’s exhibition of newly published prints of Andy Warhol and Robert Indiana is believed to be the only such images in existence capturing the artists with their works, among them Warhol’s Marilyn Monroe and Indiana’s LOVE. After almost half a century in storage, a select number of the nearly forgotten images were carefully chosen, and are now being published for the first time as a collection.

The collection of silver gelatin fine art prints have been individually printed by hand directly from the original negative on fiber paper. The first collection of Kennedy’s oeuvre consists of 50 fine art prints in a limited numbered edition of 60, each signed by the artist.

The photographs, taken in the early 1960′s at a time when Kennedy forged a friendship with both Indiana and Warhol, capture the two artists and their soon-to-be iconic works at the seminal point of their careers and the birth of the Pop Art Movement. The collection includes rarely photographed art notables Marisol, Jasper Johns James Rosenquist, Claes Oldenburg, Mario Amaya, Dorothy Miller, Henry Geldzahler and Eleanor Ward.

William John Kennedy (Glen Cove 1930-) studied at Syracuse University, the School of Visual Arts, and Pratt Institute. In the 1950′s, he worked as an assistant and studio manager for American fashion photographer, Clifford Coffin (1913-1972). Coffin, a contemporary with Penn and Avedon is arguably the greatest of Vogue’s “lost” fashion photographers. A top freelance editorial photographer in New York City, Kennedy’s work appeared in world-renowned publications including LIFE Magazine and Sports Illustrated. In the commercial arena he created national and international campaigns for corporate clients including Avon, GE, IBM, RJR Nabisco, American Express, and Xerox. Kennedy has continued his passion for fine art photography throughout the years developing a full body of work in the art form. William John Kennedy’s exhibition of newly published rare and historic images of Andy Warhol and Robert Indiana debuted during Art Basel Miami Beach 2010 to rave reviews.