Robert Mapplethorpe (1946-1989)

 1974, Self-portrait of Robert Mapplethorpe with trip cable in hand

“I went into photography because it seemed like the perfect vehicle for commenting on the madness of today’s existence.”

Robert Mapplethorpe

 1975, Self-Portrait

 1975, Patti Smith, Tate Gallery

 1976, Mark Stevens, Getty Museum

 1977, Irises, N.Y.C. (Y Portfolio)

 1977, Jim, Sausalito (X Portfolio)

 1977, Patrice, N.Y.C.

 

 1977, Patrice, N.Y.C.

 1977, Rose, N.Y.C. (Y Portfolio)

 1977-78, Jim and Tom, Sausalito

 1978, Carnation, N.Y.C. (Y Portfolio)

 1978, Cedric, N.Y.C. (X Portfolio)

“I think you have a really interesting life as a photographer. To me the most important thing is my experience, and not anything else. I care more about that than anything—I care about what I’ve gone through.”

 Robert Mapplethorpe

 1978, Helmut Fist Fuck - Helmut and Brooks, N.Y.C. Getty Museum

 1978, Helmut, N.Y.C. (X Portfolio), Los Angeles County Museum of Art

 1978, Joe

 1978, John N.Y.C. (X Portfolio)

 1978, Lou, N.Y.C.

 1978, Self -Portrait with Whip

“I’m looking for things I’ve never seen before. But I have trouble with the word ‘shocking’ because I’m not really shocked by anything…Basically, I’m selfish. I did [those photos] for myself— because I wanted to do them, because I wanted to see them. I wasn’t trying to educate anyone. I was interested in examining my own reactions.”

 Robert Mapplethorpe

 1978, Tulips

 1979, Dominick and Elliot.

 1980, Alistair Butler, N.Y.C. (Z Portfolio)

 1980, Leather Crotch

 1980, Leigh Lee, N.Y.C. (Z Portfolio)

 1980, Man in Polyester Suit

 1980, Dan S. The Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation

 1980, Self-Portrait

 1980, William Burroughs, Tate Gallery

 1981, Lisa Lyon

 1981, Cock

“I want to see the Devil in us all. That’s my real turn on.”

 Robert Mapplethorpe

 1981, Truman Capote

 1982, Phillip Prioleau

“I am obsessed with beauty. I want everything to be perfect, and of course it isn’t. And that’s a tough place to be because you’re never satisfied.”

 Robert Mapplethorpe

 1982, Cock and Gun

 1983, Andy Warhol

 1983, Derrick Cross

 1983, Ken Moody

 1984, Ken Moody and Robert Sherman

 1985, Flower With Knife

 1985, Grapes

 1985, Ken and Lydia and Tyler

 1985, Self-Portrait

 1986, Calla Lily

 1986, Flower Arrangement

 1987, Melody (Shoe)

 1987, Orchid

 1988, Calla Lily

 1988, Poppy

 1988, Self-Portrait

“Much has been said about Robert, and more will be added. Young men will adopt his gait. Young girls will wear white dresses and mourn his curls. He will be condemned and adored. His excesses damned or romanticized. In the end, truth will be found in his work, the corporeal body of the artist. It will not fall away.”

 Patti Smith

1988, Tulips

+Informació: http://www.mapplethorpe.org/