WarholMania – Warhol Kennedy Residence, UK

WARHOLMANIA William John Kennedy and Billy Name

The Warhol Kennedy Residence Private View: 12 September 2024
6-9pm Exhibition continues until 12 November 2024

Curated by Virginia Damtsa in Association with Kiwi Arts Group and David Hill Gallery at the Warhol Kennedy Residence, 190 Strand, London.

Opening this September, WarholMania is an extraordinary exhibition showcasing mainly black-and-white photographs that vividly capture Andy Warhol and his world taken by two remarkable photographers, Billy Name and William John Kennedy.

WarholMania features his groundbreaking artworks, the infamous Silver Factory, and his eclectic entourage, This exhibition offers a unique glimpse into the vibrant 1960s New York Pop Art scene, reliving the electrifying atmosphere that defined Warhol’s world.

Billy Name’s photographs from 1964-1968 is considered one of the most significant visual records of any artist’s career. These images encapsulate Warhol’s most crucial period, offering an unparalleled glimpse into the daily life and creative processes at The Silver Factory. On January 28, 1964, Warhol’s datebook noted, “New Studio 231 East 47th.” This narrow loft on the fourth floor of an industrial building in midtown Manhattan transformed into The Silver Factory— a central hub of 1960s avant-garde culture.

Warhol, impressed by Billy Name’s apartment on the Lower East Side, enlisted him to decorate the new loft. For six months in 1964, Billy lived in a tiny closet at the Factory, undertaking the legendary ‘silverizing’ project, covering every inch in silver foil or silver spray paint. Upon completion, Warhol gifted Billy a Pentax Honeywell 35mm camera, appointing him as the resident photographer and archivist. Billy’s photographs document the Factory’s daily life from 1964 onwards, including artwork creation, the filming of Screen Tests, and features like Chelsea Girls, Vinyl, and My Hustler. His images also capture Factory regulars, including Lou Reed and the Velvet Underground, Nico, Edie Sedgwick, and Bob Dylan.

Billy Name left the Factory in 1970, abandoning most of his possessions, including the negatives. After Warhol’s passing in 1987, the Warhol Foundation reached out to Billy, offering to return these invaluable negatives. In homage to Warhol’s techniques, Billy produced a stunning series of silkscreens from these negatives.