Arts & Entertainment

New Warhol exhibition to highlight drag and trans portraits

Published

5 years ago

November 13, 2019

Andy Warhol (Photo credit: RDA/Getty Images)

The Tate Modern in London has announced it will host a major retrospective of work by American artist Andy Warhol next year.

The Tate, which opened in 2000 and has become one of the most popular art galleries in the world, has not hosted a Warhol show in over 20 years. The exhibition will run from March–September 2020.

In its announcement of the show, Tate Modern says it wanted to explore how “A shy, gay man from a religious, migrant, low-income household … forged his own distinct path to emerge as the epitome of the pop art movement,” and promises to offer “a rare personal insight into how Warhol and his work marked a period of cultural transformation.”

Featured in the planned retrospective will be 25 images from the artist’s mid-70s “Ladies and Gentlemen” series. Commissioned by Italian art dealer Luciano Anselmino to produce a series of portraits of drag queens, the resulting series primarily featured subjects from the black and Latino communities – including several who were Some of the sitters. were trans or gender non-conforming.

Ladies and Gentlemen (Helen/Harry Morales), 1975, by Andy Warhol (© 2019 The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual and DACS, London)

When originally exhibited, the sitters in the images were anonymous. For the new show, research by the Andy Warhol Foundation in New York has provided identification for some, and their names will be displayed alongside their portraits for the first time.

Most of the subjects were found by Warhol – or rather his assistants – at the Gilded Grape, a New York City bar located on Eighth Avenue and 45th Street. Each of the 14 sitters were paid $50-$100 to pose for Warhol’s Polaroid camera. Nine of them wrote their names on the original Polaroids. Some who did not sign their photos have since been recognized – such as Wilhelmina Ross, a performer from the Hot Peaches theatre troupe, and LGBT icon Marsha P. Johnson.

Only one of the models is still unidentified.

At the press launch announcing the exhibit in London last week, Tate Modern director Frances Morris said that Warhol’s art “feels more relevant and influential today than ever.”

“He is one of the most recognizable names in the late 20th century but in today’s climate, it feels important to take a more human and more personal look at somebody who is a very familiar artist.” Morris said.

Related Topics:Andy Warhol London Marsha P. Johnson Tate Modern Wilhelmina Ross

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Arts & Entertainment

Washington Blade’s Pride on the Pier returns bigger than ever with two-day WorldPride celebration

Published

1 day ago

April 15, 2025

Staff reports

The Washington Blade’s Pride on the Pier will be extended to a two-day celebration in honor of WorldPride coming to D.C. this year. Taking place on Friday, June 6 and Saturday, June 7 at The Wharf, this year’s event promises more entertainment, more community, and more pride than ever before — all set against the stunning waterfront backdrop of our nation’s capital.

With the addition of Friday, the party kicks off at 3 p.m., with the inaugural WorldPride Boat Parade at 7 p.m. As an Official WorldPride Partner event, the boat parade will feature 30 decorated boats parading along the Washington Channel. For information on signing up for the boat parade contact Stephen Rutgers at [email protected].

Saturday’s signature Pier Party kicks off at 12 p.m., featuring a drag show, DJ’s, streaming of the WorldPride Parade, and the iconic Fireworks Show Presented by the Leonard-Litz Foundation — one of D.C. Pride’s most anticipated spectacles.

“We’re expanding Washington Blade Pride on the Pier to reflect the excitement and momentum building for WorldPride in D.C.,” said Blade publisher Lynne Brown. “It’s a celebration of our community’s progress and a powerful reminder of the joy and visibility Pride brings to the heart of our city.”

Now in its seventh year, Washington Blade Pride on the Pier extends the city’s annual celebration of LGBTQ visibility to the bustling Wharf waterfront with an exciting array of activities and entertainment for all ages. The District Pier will offer DJs, dancing, drag, and other entertainment. Alcoholic beverages will be available for purchase for those 21 and older.

Pride on the Pier is free and open to the public, with VIP tickets available for exclusive pier access, hosted bars, and private viewing areas for the boat parade and the fireworks show. To purchase VIP tickets visit www.prideonthepierdc.com/vip.

Friday VIP: 5-9 p.m., enjoy an air-conditioned lounge, private bathroom, cash bar and complimentary drink.

Saturday VIP Session #1: 2-5 p.m., enjoy an air-conditioned lounge, private bathroom, catered food, and an open bar.

Saturday VIP Session #2: 6-9 p.m., enjoy the air-conditioned lounge, private bathroom, catered snacks and dinner, and open bar with a front-row view of the fireworks.

Event Details:

📍 Location: District Pier at The Wharf (101 District Sq., S.W., Washington, D.C.)
📅 Dates: Friday, June 6 & Saturday, June 7, 2025
🛥️Boat Parade: 7 p.m. (June 6). 🎆 Fireworks Show: 9 p.m. (June 7)
🎟️ VIP Tickets: www.PrideOnThePierDC.com/VIP

Event sponsors include Absolut, Capital Pride, DC Fray, Infinate Legacy, Heineken, Leonard-Litz Foundation, Mayor’s Office of LGBTQ Affairs, Relish Catering, Washingtonian, and The Wharf. More information regarding activities will be released at www.PrideOnThePierDC.com