Robert Mapplethorpe was born on November 4, 1946, in Floral Park, New York. He left home in 1962 and enrolled at Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, in 1963, where he studied painting and sculpture and received his BFA in 1970. During this time, he met artist, poet, and musician Patti Smith. She encouraged his work and posed for numerous portraits when they lived together in Brooklyn and in the Chelsea Hotel in Manhattan, a gathering place for artists, writers, and musicians in the early 1970s.
It was not Mapplethorpe’s original intention to be a photographer, and from 1970 to 1974, he mainly made assemblage constructions that incorporate images of men from pornographic magazines with found objects and painting. In order to create his own images for these collages, Mapplethorpe turned to photography, initially using a Polaroid SX-70 camera. Interested in portraiture, Mapplethorpe worked as a staff photographer for Andy Warhol’s Interview magazine. He also produced album covers for Smith and the group Television, and at the same time photographed socialites and celebrities such as John Paul Getty III and Carolina Herrera.
Mapplethorpe had his first substantial shows in 1977, both in New York: an exhibition of photographs of flowers at the Holly Solomon Gallery and one of male nudes and sadomasochistic imagery at the Kitchen. Mapplethorpe’s diverse work — homoerotic images, floral still lifes, pictures of children, commissioned portraits, mixed-media sculpture — is united by the constancy of his approach and technique. The surfaces of his prints offer a seemingly endless gradation of blacks and whites, shadow and light, and regardless of subject, his images are both elegant and provocative. In the mid-to-late 1980s, returning to the sculptural use of photography seen in his early assemblages, Mapplethorpe created sensual diptychs and triptychs of photographs printed on fabric and luxurious cloth panels.
In 1988, four major exhibitions of Mapplethorpe’s work were organized: by the Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam; the Whitney Museum of American Art, New York; the Institute of Contemporary Art, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia; and the National Portrait Gallery, London. Mapplethorpe died due to complications from AIDS on March 9, 1989, in Boston.
Find original Robert Mapplethorpe photography on 1stDibs.
(Biography provided by Cerbera Gallery)
Rare (Historic) Atlantic House, Provincetown - Entre Nous - Chains -offset print
By Robert Mapplethorpe
Located in New York, NY
Robert Mapplethorpe Rare (Historic) Atlantic House, Provincetown - Entre Nous - Chains poster, 1991 Offset lithograph poster 17 × 11 inches Unframed, unsigned and unnumbered Accompan...
Lithograph, Offset
Silver Dollar
By Robert Mapplethorpe
Located in Greenwich, CT
Silver Dollar is a silver gelatin print on paper by Robert Mapplethorpe, titled, numbered, and dated verso. The print is signed and dated again on the back within his signature stamp...
Paper, Silver Gelatin
$1,800
H 40 in W 31 in
Persephone III - large format photograph of a timeless environmental still
By Erik Pawassar
Located in San Francisco, CA
large scale original photograph from the body of works 'Persephone', a series of environmental still-life photographs of timeless palimpsest impressions Persephone III by Erik Pawassar 40 x 31 inches (102 x 79cm) signed edition of 25 62 x 48 inches (157 x 122cm) signed edition of 7 archival fine art pigment print signed & numbered by artist on label custom/larger sizes are available on request ____________________________ Erik Pawassar's work focuses on the beauty of the disregarded or mundane object. The subjects for his striking and captivating visuals are typically set in the most ordinary environments, drawing the viewer into a charged but serene experience based on composition, palette and formal lines. Saturated in color, the nominal subjects gather a haunting and mesmerizing quality, creating a poignant pretext for the making of a formal color photograph. Decisively capturing the traces left by humanity, Pawassar's images are filled with a sense of universal nostalgia and pay homage to the passage of time and the extinguished moment, referencing documentary and street photographers like Henri Cartier-Bresson, Sebastian Salgado...
Archival Pigment, Photographic Paper
$1,800
H 40 in W 31 in
Persephone VI - large format photograph of a timeless environmental still
By Erik Pawassar
Located in San Francisco, CA
large scale original photograph from the body of works 'Persephone', a series of environmental still-life photographs of timeless palimpsest impressions Persephone VI by Erik Pawassar 40 x 31 inches (102 x 79cm) signed edition of 25 62 x 48 inches (157 x 122cm) signed edition of 7 archival fine art pigment print signed & numbered by artist on label custom/larger sizes are available on request ____________________________ Erik Pawassar's work focuses on the beauty of the disregarded or mundane object. The subjects for his striking and captivating visuals are typically set in the most ordinary environments, drawing the viewer into a charged but serene experience based on composition, palette and formal lines. Saturated in color, the nominal subjects gather a haunting and mesmerizing quality, creating a poignant pretext for the making of a formal color photograph. Decisively capturing the traces left by humanity, Pawassar's images are filled with a sense of universal nostalgia and pay homage to the passage of time and the extinguished moment, referencing documentary and street photographers like Henri Cartier-Bresson, Sebastian...
Photographic Paper, Archival Pigment, Archival Ink, Giclée, Archival Paper
$3,800
H 60 in W 48 in
Flora Italiana ( Papavero Bianco ) - large scale botanical still life photograph
By Linda Rosewall
Located in San Francisco, CA
Original large format still life photograph from Linda Rosewall's botany study series "Flora Italiana", an intensely beautiful body of works exploring the botanical splendor of Italian flowers in the natural world with highly detailed captures. Flora Italiana ( Papavero Bianco ) delicate white poppy flower petals 64 x 48 inches (162 x 122cm) signed edition of 7 40 x 30 inches (102 x 76cm) signed edition of 25 archival fine art pigment print signed & numbered by artist on label custom/larger sizes are available on request ___________________ About the artist Linda Rosewall’s artistic path was cemented during her childhood. She was inspired by her farther, an accomplished musician and composer who raised his six children as a performing family act. The experience of traveling the United States and Canada in a small airplane piloted by her father provided the opportunity for Linda to capture these moments on her small Kodak Instamatic Camera. At the age of 18, she enrolled at Columbia College of Fine Arts Chicago. During her studies, Linda apprenticed under photographer Norman Bilisko and later worked with Dennis Manarchy...
Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Photographic Paper, Giclée, Archival Pigment
$3,800
H 64 in W 48 in D 0.03 in
Flora Italiana ( Waratah Red ) - large format botanical still life photograph
By Linda Rosewall
Located in San Francisco, CA
Original large format still life photograph from Linda Rosewall's series "Flora Italiana", an intensely beautiful body of works exploring the botanical splendor of Italian flowers with highly detailed captures Flora Italiana ( Waratah Red ) 64 x 48 inches (162 x 122cm) signed edition of 7 40 x 30 inches (102 x 76cm) signed edition of 25 archival fine art pigment print signed & numbered by artist on label custom/larger sizes are available on request ___________________ About the artist Linda Rosewall’s artistic path was cemented during her childhood. She was inspired by her farther, an accomplished musician and composer who raised his six children as a performing family act. The experience of traveling the United States and Canada in a small airplane piloted by her father provided the opportunity for Linda to capture these moments on her small Kodak Instamatic Camera. At the age of 18, she enrolled at Columbia College of Fine Arts Chicago. During her studies, Linda apprenticed under photographer Norman Bilisko and later worked with Dennis Manarchy...
Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Photographic Paper, Giclée, Archival Pigment
$18,500
H 7 in W 7 in
Andy Warhol, Marilyn Monroe Print, Invitation to the Leo Castelli Gallery, 1981
By Andy Warhol
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
An invitation to "Andy Warhol: A Print Retrospective 1963-1981" held at the Leo Castelli Gallery in New York City, printed with the iconic image of Marilyn Monroe. Published by Caste...
Lithograph, Offset
$3,850
H 27 in W 36 in
FLOWER SPECTRUM II Signed Lithograph 1990, Pop Art Portrait, Magenta Pink, Green
By Peter Max
Located in Union City, NJ
FLOWER SPECTRUM II is an original hand drawn lithograph by the American Pop artist Peter Max printed in an edition of 150, using traditional hand lithography techniques on archival paper. FLOWER SPECTRUM II is a pop art lady portrait head depicting a graceful female profile of a goddess woman crowned in leaves and flowers, printed in deep pink, pastel lavender, light pink, teal, light aqua green, yellow, magenta, and reds. FLOWER SPECTRUM II's gorgeous colors - the raspberry rose...
Lithograph
Mirror Images
By (after) Roy Lichtenstein
Located in Kansas City, MO
Roy Lichtenstein Mirror Images Offset Lithograph 2000 33.07 x 23.22 inches (84 x 59 cm) Unsigned as issued Publisher: VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn - Germany COA provided The exhibition in Wo...
Lithograph, Offset
$2,450
H 28 in W 21 in D 0.3 in
Original Michael Jackson, Time Magazine, Andy Warhol authentic poster linen
By Andy Warhol
Located in Spokane, WA
Original Andy Warhol vintage poster with Michael Jackson for Time Magazine March 1984. This vintage poster created by Andy Warhol was the image used for the cover of Time Magazine ...
Offset
$355Sale Price|38% Off
H 33 in W 23.62 in
Drawings 1942-1987 - Museum Moyland Castle (Pop Art, Iconic, Living Room)
By (after) Andy Warhol
Located in Kansas City, MO
Andy Warhol Drawings 1942-1987 - Museum Moyland Castle Offset Lithograph 1998 33 x 23.62 inches (84 x 60 cm) Unsigned as issued COA provided *Condition: Minute creasing along the ed...
Lithograph, Offset
$3,000
H 64 in W 48 in
Blue Glove ( Michael Jackson ) - large format iconic still life photograph
By Tom Schierlitz
Located in San Francisco, CA
a highly detailed still life photograph of the performer's iconic blue and gold sequin and rhinestone crystal glove Blue Glove ( Michael Jackson ) by T...
Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Photographic Paper, Archival Pigment
$3,750
H 26.75 in W 36.5 in
Three Faces Signed Lithograph, Abstract Portrait, Rainbow Colors, 1991
By Peter Max
Located in Union City, NJ
THREE FACES is an original hand drawn lithograph by the renowned American Pop artist, Peter Max, printed in 1991 in an edition of 100, using tradition...
Lithograph
$3,800
H 60 in W 48 in
Persephone II - large format photograph of a timeless environmental still
By Erik Pawassar
Located in San Francisco, CA
large scale original photograph capturing frozen palimpsest of a person's existence Persephone II by Erik Pawassar 60 x 48 inches (152 x 122cm) edition of 7 signed 40 x 32 inches...
Giclée, Archival Paper, Archival Pigment, Photographic Paper
Robert Mapplethorpe-Calla Lilly-39" x 27"-Poster-Photography
By Robert Mapplethorpe
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Limited edition reproduction of Robert Mapplethorpe's Calla Lilly. The poster was published by Little, Brown and Company in the early 90"s. It has been out-of-print for many years bu...
Offset
Silver Dollar - Black & White
By Robert Mapplethorpe
Located in Washington, DC
Artist: Robert Mapplethorpe Medium: Silver gelatin print Title: Silver Dollar - Black & White Year: 1988 Edition: 10/10 Framed Size: 33 x 29 1/4 inches S...
Silver Gelatin
Original Patti Smith Horses, Vinyl 1st Pressing
By Robert Mapplethorpe
Located in NEW YORK, NY
Patti Smith Horses Vinyl Record Album, 1975 US 1st Pressing Photography by Robert Mapplethorpe Produced by John Cale Cover: Excellent Condition R...
Offset
Season in Hell
By Robert Mapplethorpe
Located in Long Island City, NY
Artist: Robert Mapplethorpe, American (1946 - 1989) Title: Season in Hell Year: 1986 Medium: Dustgrain Photogravure, signed, dated and numbered in pencil Edition: 35/40 Image Si...
Photogravure
Flowers
By Robert Mapplethorpe
Located in London, GB
toned photogravure; 1988, signed, dated and numbered from the edition 25, 91 x 63cm
Flowers
By Robert Mapplethorpe
Located in London, GB
toned photogravure; 1988, signed, dated and numbered from the edition 25, 91 x 63cm
Flowers
By Robert Mapplethorpe
Located in London, GB
toned photogravure; 1988, signed, dated and numbered from the edition 25, 91 x 63cm
Flowers
By Robert Mapplethorpe
Located in London, GB
toned photogravure; 1988, signed, dated and numbered from the edition 25, 91 x 63cm
From Flowers
By Robert Mapplethorpe
Located in London, GB
toned photogravure; 1988, signed, dated and numbered from the edition 25, 91 x 63cm
From Flowers
By Robert Mapplethorpe
Located in London, GB
toned photogravure; 1988, signed, dated and numbered from the edition 25, 91 x 63cm