Andy Warhol Ladies and Gentlemen (F & S II.128) For Sale

Ladies and Gentlemen is a particularly socially pertinent portfolio created by Andy Warhol in 1975. The artist was commissioned by Luciano Anselmino, an Italian art dealer, who wanted a collection of ‘impersonal’ and ‘anonymous’ photographs of ‘transvestites’. Subversively naming the series ‘Ladies and Gentlemen’, Warhol’s assistant and friends recruited his sitters at the Gilded Grape, a bar in Manhattan close to Warhol’s Factory, that was known to be frequented by the Black and Latinx trans women and drag queens of New York. This resulted in over 500 polaroids of 14 different models taken at the Factory, which was narrowed down to a collection of 10 screenprints.

This screenprint is a particularly dynamic piece from the portfolio. The sitter has been identified as ‘Iris’, although very little more than that is known about her. In the same style as the accompanying prints, her face is covered by strips of coloured blocks, that look as if they have been collaged onto the print. Two large purple blocks are placed onto her eyelids, perhaps to exaggerate the creative makeup of drag. Her wig is reminiscent of Marilyn Monroe’s famous curls, elevating her to starlet status. The orange hair contrasts with the pastel blues and pinks of the subject’s face, as she holds an expression of the utmost self-confidence in who she is, oozing sensuality and femininity.

Although the portfolio presents a powerful and glamourous depiction of an often undocumented and overlooked community, many critics have raised ethical concerns over the portfolio. The main issues lay in the fact that Andy Warhol was not a part of this community, and whilst these paintings would sell for thousands of dollars, the sitters were paid little to nothing. On top of this, the sitters remained mostly anonymous, apart from a handful of polaroids which the sitters signed with their names. However, in 2014 the Warhol Foundation published a list of names of the sitters, which identified 13/14 of the women for the first time. Warhol created his Mick Jagger portfolio within the same year, and his equal treatment and inclusivity of the two different subject matter with equal artistic style suggests Warhol sees both Mick Jagger and trans women and drag queens with equal respect and fascination.

Buy Andy Warhol Ladies and Gentlemen (F & S II.128)

Andipa Editions, as part of Andipa, have been at the forefront of the Warhol market for over 20 years. To enquire about buying Ladies and Gentlemen (F & S II.128) by Andy Warhol, contact us via sales@andipa.com or on +44 (0) 20 7589 2371.

Sell Andy Warhol Ladies and Gentlemen (F & S II.128) by Andy Warhol

With a global network of active buyers, Andipa Editions are the place to sell your Ladies and Gentlemen (F & S II.128) print. Straight-forward and stress-free, we manage the process on your behalf and help to maximise your return. For a complimentary valuation of your Ladies and Gentlemen (F & S II.128) print, contact us via sales@andipa.com or on +44 (0) 20 7589 2371. Explore our collection of Andy Warhol original prints for sale.