William John Kennedy’s rare and iconic photographs of Andy Warhol capture the chapter when the Pop Art pioneer changed the world – and the ongoing story behind these historic images is fittingly remarkable.
For the first time, a new exhibition titled Warhol: Inside the Box shares the full, extraordinary stories of these images, from their creation during the birth of the Pop Art Movement, to being lost and forgotten for half a century, the impact of their discovery, and the ongoing saga of the rare and sealed box sets with the remaining photographs.
The William John Kennedy: the Warhol Museum Edition box sets are the first portfolio release in the history of the Warhol Museum and will be on show at a free exhibition at Bloomsbury’s opulent L’oscar London hotel. The public can register to attend Warhol: Inside The Box by emailing [email protected]
The late Kennedy shot his friend Warhol from the early 60s, at the crucial moment when the iconic artist’s career was just launching, and this rare body of images has become the most recognised and important collection of Warhol photographs ever discovered. They are believed to be the only images in existence capturing Warhol with some of his most celebrated works.
Remarkably, the negatives were stored in a box, gathering dust for nearly five decades – and almost thrown away – until Kennedy rediscovered them. Now you can see them for yourself inside the beautiful L’oscar London hotel, just a minute away from Holborn Tube Station. And while you are there, have a drink in the fabulous bar or if you are feeling peckish grab a bite to eat in the restaurant, opulently decorated with an ambience that is second to none.