Gilles Larrain "Idols"

Steven Kasher Gallery

poster for Gilles Larrain "Idols"

This event has ended.

Steven Kasher Gallery presents "Gilles Larrain: Idols". The show will feature 35-40 never - before-printed for exhibitedion large-scale photographs of New York’s most wildly colorful, often scandalous denizens of style that he shot during the revolutionary early 1970s. Larrain’s now legendary SoHo studio became a haven for the glamorous misfits who were exploring their sexual identity and re-creating the city’s night life.

Through Larrain’s vision and friendship with his models, the lush photographs capture the soul and emotion beneath the surface of the Halloween glamour of the transvestite world. Larrain probed beneath the glitter and posturing to expose joy and unbridled excitement, but also the desperation and vulnerability during that revolutionary time.

The exhibition Idols is an authentic compendium of 1970s New York style and attitude. It began with an awestruck Larrain visiting Max's Kansas City in the explosively liberating early years of the gay rights movement, then initiating his own wild salons where friends came to play music, dress up and fantasize. The images, originally published in the book Idols in 1973, captured the individuals who transformed the era. Original from 1970-72. These large-scale color prints are powerfully emotional portraits of some of the most colorful New York denizens of a most frenzied, creative era. Idols are revolutionary images from a revolutionary artist whose work defined a generation. Idols, the book, was originally printed in 1973; copies of the book are coveted collectors items; a. A new edition from Powerhouse will beis being launched simultaneously with this exhibition.

"I moved to New York City because of people like this. I wanted to be around the art crowd and the weirdos and the freaks...and here was a full-on book of them. I was like, where do I sign up? I wanted in."
—Ryan McGinley, from the Foreword

"Idols" is an authentic compendium of 1970s' New York style and attitude. It began with an awestruck Larrain visiting Max's Kansas City in the explosively liberating early years of the gay rights movement. Featuring a generation of New York's most talented, outrageous, and glamorous personalities, the unique photographs in Idols are testament to countless hours his subjects spent donning creative makeup and costumes in Gilles' now legendary SoHo studio.

These arresting photographs may delight you, or offend you; they will not leave you cold.

Gilles Larrain has since worked with artists in a wide range of creative disciplines, including the the same care and curiosity with other subjects including the American Ballet Theatre, Mikhail Baryshnikov, Salvador Dali, Miles Davis, Sting, Billy Joel, Roberto Rossellini, Norman Mailer, and manyy, many more.

[Image: Gilles Larrain "Alexis del Lago" (ca. 1970) Archival digital print from Kodachrome 44 x 31 in.]

Media

Schedule

from November 02, 2011 to December 23, 2011

Opening Reception on 2011-11-02 from 18:00 to 20:00

Artist(s)

Gilles Larrain

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