Dirty Art. Andy Warhol s Torsos and Sex Parts

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1 Dirty Art Andy Warhol s Torsos and Sex Parts In the fall of 1977, Andy Warhol began work on two new series of artworks which would become known as Torsos and Dirty Art. While the Torsos paintings would quickly be praised for following in the high art style of classical nudes, the Sex Parts series from which Torsos was borne blurred the line between art and pornography. The seed of the Torsos and Dirty Art series sprouted after a man approached Warhol boasting of his large penis. Warhol agreed to photograph the man s genitalia and the photographs were placed in a box casually labeled Sex Parts. Later, Warhol noticed the wording of the box s label and conceived the idea for a series of works based on the initial photographs. Subjects for subsequent photo shoots were recruited from gay bath houses by Halston s boyfriend, the artist and window dresser Victor Hugo. The men were asked to relax, pose, or take part in various sexual activities while Warhol photographed them with a 35mm camera and a Polaroid Big Shot. According to associate Bob Colacello, when confronted on the explicit nature of the photographs sitting around the office Warhol responded, Just tell them it s art, Bob. They re landscapes. Holy Terror, p. 337 The tamer images became the basis of the Torsos series, which was meant to be exhibited in museums, and which debuted at the Grand Palais in Paris in October The more sexually-charged artworks were produced as the Dirty Art print portfolio and were intended to be purchased for private collections. But perhaps the underlying reason for their creation was as a tool for Warhol s ultimate acceptance of his sexuality. Longtime assistant Ronnie Cutrone recalls: we always understood it was going to be one of those portfolios that would sit primarily in the back room; that it would take a certain type of collector to appreciate them But Andy was Catholic and a homosexual For years, the joke was that Andy called homosexuality a problem. Dirty Art was a final announcement or affirmation of his homosexuality. Unseen Warhol, p.68 Many of the works in this exhibition are on view to the public for the first time. Although this exhibition features artwork in an educational format, some works contain explicit content.

2 Dirty Art: Exhibition Specifications Contents Supplemental Loan Fee 53 objects: 7 paintings, 10 prints, 2 drawings, and 33 photographs Wall panel and object labels included. Curatorial and programmatic support available upon request. $15, USD plus domestic round-trip shipping and insurance Minimum space requirement Lighting Crates Security Shipping Contact 1,400 square feet Maximum 5-10 foot candles AWM-provided High (24- Hour electronic and human security with CCTV) Fine Art Shipper, Shuttle transport ok, courier required for condition reports and installation exhibitions@warhol.org Tour History This exhibition was first on view at AWM in Summer 2010 Scheduling minimum 6-months advance notice. *Pending successful completion and review of facility report.

3 Selected Works

4 Dirty Art at The Andy Warhol Museum, Pittsburgh July 23-October 4, 2010 Installation Images

5 Dirty Art at The Andy Warhol Museum, Pittsburgh July 23-October 4, 2010 Installation Images

6 Image Credits This publication The Andy Warhol Museum, Pittsburgh, PA, a museum of Carnegie Institute. No part may be reproduced without prior written permission from The Andy Warhol Museum. No illustration in this publication may be reproduced without the permission of the copyright owners. Request and inquiries concerning reproduction and rights should be directed to the Photo Services Office of The Andy Warhol Museum. All Andy Warhol paintings, prints, drawings, photographs and sculptures The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, Inc. All Andy Warhol film and video materials The Andy Warhol Museum, Pittsburgh, PA, a museum of Carnegie Institute. All rights reserved. Unless otherwise stated, copyright for all other images and art work is held either by their creators or their representatives. Copyright for text in this publication is held by The Andy Warhol Museum and the authors. Except where noted, all material Collection of The Andy Warhol Museum, Pittsburgh. Dirty Art is curated by Jesse Kowalski, Director of Exhibitions Cover page, Torsos Posterior View (5), 1077 Below: Torso (Double), ca (detail) 1. Torso From Behind, Torso (Buttocks), Shaved Vagina, Nude Model (Male), Nude Model (Victor Hugo), 1977