Press Release The Andy Warhol Museum Adds 100 Rare and Iconic Photographs to Permanent Collection
For immediate release
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
The Andy Warhol Museum and KIWI Arts Group announce that a selection of 100 signed and numbered photographs from the William John Kennedy archives will become part of the museum’s permanent collection. In addition, two unpublished images from Kennedy’s Warhol Flowers and Warhol Self Portrait series have been released to The Warhol as a limited edition to benefit the museum. The collection of rare photographs, which captures Andy Warhol in 1963‐64 during the pivotal moment in his career, adds significant historical dimension to the museum’s holdings.
“The Andy Warhol Museum is honored to receive this rare and highly significant collection of photographs,” said Eric C. Shiner, museum director. “Not only do they provide imaginative insight into Warhol’s persona, they are a testament to Mr. Kennedy’s superb talent. The further addition of unpublished images dedicated to the Museum’s fundraising efforts is undoubtedly a generous gesture by Mr. Kennedy and KIWI Arts Group.”
As history has revealed, Kennedy’s extraordinary ability to foresee the impact that Warhol would have on the art world is what makes his photography most poignant. The images, which remained in storage for nearly 50 years, provide a unique perspective of Warhol and his most iconic works, including Marilyn (Marilyn Monroe), Flowers, The American Man (Portrait of Watson Powell), Self Portrait and Birmingham Race Riot.
“Upon discovering the negatives, we recognized the historical significance of the work,” stated Michael Huter, KIWI Arts Group publisher. “We‘re delighted that The Warhol shares our vision for the William John Kennedy archive becoming part of its permanent collection. It’s a wonderful opportunity to provide a portion of this $25M collection—currently being sold on the international art market—to help raise funds to support the museum’s efforts and to expose a different side of Warhol to a broader audience.”
The curated exhibition, Before They Were Famous: Behind the Lens of William John Kennedy, is currently on view in New York and Indianapolis through the end of May 2012. For additional information and a calendar of events, please visit www.kiwiartsgroup.com.
Exhibitions and Related Public Programs
Before They Were Famous: Behind the Lens of William John Kennedy
April 19 – May 29, 2012
Panel Discussion: Saturday, May 5 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Telling Tales: Warhol’s Friends Tell it Like it Was
Moderated by Eric C. Shiner, Director of The Andy Warhol Museum
Discussion features Ultra Violet, Taylor Mead and William John Kennedy RSVP required at warhol@kiwiartsgroup.com
KIWI Arts Group at Site/109 (109 Norfolk Street, New York, NY 10002) | Tel: 212.260.8110
Conrad Indianapolis and ModernMasters Fine Art present ‘A Toast to Pop Art,’ featuring
Before They Were Famous: Behind the Lens of William John Kennedy
April 28 – May 31, 2012
Opening Reception Saturday, April 28 from 6 to 10 p.m.
Co‐hosted by Al Kite & Christel DeHaan, in benefit of Christel House
Tickets: $50
Conrad Indianapolis (50 West Washington Street, Indianapolis, IN 46204)
Program curated by Rhonda Long‐Sharp of ModernMasters Fine Art | Tel: 866.370.1601
About the Exhibition Before They Were Famous: Behind the Lens of William John Kennedy
Before They Were Famous: Behind the Lens of William John Kennedy was conceived by KIWI Arts Group as an international tour of Kennedy’s collection of images featuring historic early photographs of Warhol and Indiana, along with multi‐city screenings of the documentary “Full Circle: Before They Were Famous.” The 40‐minute film, starring William John Kennedy, Robert Indiana, Ultra Violet, Taylor Mead and others, chronicles the journey of Kennedy’s images as they were brought to public view. See the trailer: http://youtu.be/DxQwDz5dK‐I
About The Andy Warhol Museum
Located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the place of Andy Warhol’s birth, The Warhol is one of the most comprehensive single‐artist museums in the world. The Andy Warhol Museum is one of the four Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh. Additional information about The Warhol is available at www.warhol.org.
About Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh
Founded by Andrew Carnegie in 1895, Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh is a collection of four distinctive museums dedicated to exploration through art and science: Carnegie Museum of Art, Carnegie Museum of Natural History, Carnegie Science Center, and The Andy Warhol Museum. In 2007, the museums reached 1.3 million people through exhibitions, educational programs, outreach activities, and special events.
About KIWI Arts Group
KIWI Arts Group is a Miami‐based fine art publishing house that transcends the traditional artist‐ gallery relationship with unique vision and skill. Its mission is to identify talent, create and disseminate multimedia documentation that articulately reveals the artist’s proper historical context, and successfully manage all aspects of marketing and sales on an international scale. For more information, please call 305.200.3047 or visit www.kiwiartsgroup.com.
The Warhol receives state arts funding support through a grant from the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, a state agency funded by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency; and The Heinz Endowments. Further support is provided by the Allegheny Regional Asset District.
The Andy Warhol Museum
Located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the place of Andy Warhol’s birth, The Andy Warhol Museum holds the largest collection of Warhol’s artworks and archival materials and is one of the most comprehensive single-artist museums in the world. The Warhol is one of the four Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh.
Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh
Established in 1895 by Andrew Carnegie, Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh is a collection of four distinctive museums: Carnegie Museum of Art, Carnegie Museum of Natural History, Carnegie Science Center, and The Andy Warhol Museum. The museums reach more than 1.4 million people a year through exhibitions, educational programs, outreach activities, and special events.