217

ANNIE LEIBOVITZ

American, b. 1949

Keith Haring, New York

1986, platinum print
signed, titled, dated, and numbered 15/30 along lower margin
18 7/8 x 23 in., frame: 28 x 32 in.

  • Provenance: The Collection of a San Diego, California Lady.
  • Notes: Noted editorial photographer Annie Leibovitz was commissioned by a Florida magazine to shoot the artist Keith Haring in 1986. Though the magazine article was never published, this image remains one of Leibovitz's most iconic photographs. In the 2008 book Annie Leibovitz at Work, the artist recalls,
    "Keith and I talked on the phone and I asked him if he had ever painted himself. He said no, although a couple of years earlier Andy Warhol had arranged for him to paint Grace Jones and to have Robert Mapplethorpe photograph her when Keith was finished.

    We decided that he would paint his torso for me. We shot it in the studio, on a set constructed to look like someone's living room, then painted it white. When Keith arrived he painted the room with black lines in less than forty-five minutes. Then he painted his upper body in about five minutes. When he came out of the dressing room he was wearing white painters' pants, but it just seemed obvious to both of us at that point that he should paint the rest of him.

    It's hard to paint yourself. Keith did only the front. I loved the way he painted his penis. It was so witty, with an elongated line. The pictures took only a few minutes, and when we finished, Keith didn't want to stop. He said he felt dressed and wanted to go out. I suggested we go to Times Square, which was a few blocks away. This was 1986, and it was still pretty rough. The peep shows and the porn houses were still there. In the car on the way over I told my assistants that we were going to have to work fast because we'd probably get arrested.

    I photographed Keith in back of the statue of George M. Cohan in Duffy Square and in front of a bank. It was a cold winter night and this painted, naked guy was walking around, and nobody, including a couple of policemen who were there, paid any attention to us."
  • Condition: Overall good condition. Hinge mounted at top edge with linen tape. A few flecks of foxing verso, not visible recto. The full sheet, with deckled edges. Sheet measures 22 5/8 x 26 5/8 in.

    Please note: All property is sold "AS IS" and any statement, whether oral or written, is given as a courtesy and shall not be deemed as a guarantee, warranty, or representation of the authenticity of authorship, physical condition, size, quality, rarity, importance, provenance, exhibitions, literature or historical relevance of the property or otherwise. The absence of a condition report does not imply the item is in perfect condition.

Accepted Forms of Payment:

Money Order / Cashiers Check, Personal Check, Wire Transfer

Shipping

A list of recommended shippers can be found on our website. Please contact the shipper directly to get quotes and to make arrangements for them to pick up your items at our gallery. The shipper should contact us to make an appointment to pick up the items and purchasers should also call the gallery to authorize release of the items to the shipper.

November 5, 2022 11:00 AM EDT
Boston, MA, US

Grogan & Company

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of up to 25% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $999 $100
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 + $10,000