Robert Mapplethorpe
Born - 1946
Died of Aids - 1989 (42 years old)
Prat Institute in art
Met Pattie Smith there
Known for portraiture - Mainly Black & White
Also did private portraiture shoots
Controversially he documented Manhattan's gay community (1960's - 1970's)
Is his work pornography or art?
He was catholic
Mother knew he was gay but his father didn't
Also photographed flowers
Worked in pre-digital age
Mystery in his work
Very Controversial
Didn't initially set out to shock the audience
Work in museums - New York & London
Content could be considered as controversial
Ask to do commissions for rich people
Work sends out messages / signals
Captures people
Tonal
Grew up in a suburban Catholic area in America
Art school training at 16 years old
Moved to Brooklyn
Helped Pattie with her work
First portraits of Pattie
Arranged things like a Catholic
Wasn't a religious person
Sense of humour in his work
Gallery charges $15,000
Most of the work he endures is in deciding what photographs to use
Refines images relatively easily because if something is slightly off or out of place, he won't use it
Famous as a controversial artist
Aggressive sexuality
Violence
Understood what audience wanted to see
Exploring the lifestyle which he was involved in
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