SAN FRANCISCO, CA.- American fine art photographer William John Kennedy's exhibition of newly published photographs of Andy Warhol and Robert Indiana debuted during
Art Basel/Miami Beach 2010 to rave reviews. Believed to be the only such images in existence, the photographs capture the two artists and their soon-to-be iconic works at the seminal point of their careers and the birth of the Pop art movement.
After nearly half a century in storage, a select number of the nearly forgotten images were carefully chosen and have been published for the first time as a collection by
KIWI Arts Group. The collection will be exhibited for the first time on the West Coast at the
San Francisco Fine Art Fair, Fort Mason Center, May 19-22, 2011.
A short film, "Full Circle: Before They Were Famous," chronicling the images' journey from the days they were taken to the present will have its West Coast premiere during the fair. The short film features rare interviews with many of the principals of the story including Robert Indiana; Warhol Superstar, Ultra Violet; and poet/performer,Taylor Mead. Filled with revealing and at times funny personal anecdotes, the story offers a rare look into the lives and working studios of two key artists who influenced the course of twentieth century American art. The daily screenings are free to the public attending the fair.
With Pop's current dominance in the art world and the rising prominence of fine art photography among collectors, both the exhibit and the film have received wide praise from critics, art fans and film-goers alike at previous showings during Art Basel/Miami Beach 2010 and the 2011 Dallas Art Fair. According to Tom Austin in AOL/Paper the short film's standing-room-only screening in Miami Beach was,"One of the best- and most surreal evenings-of Art Basel."
Included in the exhibition is a signed and numbered limited edition of Robert Indiana's, "American Dream No. 5." The monumental piece consists of 5 panels, each measuring 26.5"x 26.5" and is presented by the Wilderming Art Group.
