CLAMP Gallery Opened Andy Warhol Exhibition
The exhibition showcases rare Polaroids and candid photographs of the legendary artist in New York City.
Updated on Oct. 6, 2026 in Fine Art
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The CLAMP gallery in New York City has opened its latest exhibition, Other Sides of Andy. The display features rare erotic Polaroids alongside candid photographs of Andy Warhol captured by his contemporaries.
Why it matters
Warhol produced explicit erotic imagery privately during his life because traditional museums and collectors would not accept such works at the time. This exhibition offers a rare public view into these personal projects.
The exhibition features Andy Warhol Polaroids from the 1977 Torsos and 1978 Sex Parts series. Also on display is a 20 x 16 inch gelatin silver print by Meryl Meisler.
The players
Andy Warhol
He was a leading figure in the visual art movement known as pop art who lived from 1928 to 1987.
Christopher Makos
He is a photographer and collaborator who worked closely with Warhol on several experimental portrait series.
CLAMP
This is a contemporary art gallery based in New York City that hosts exhibitions featuring fine art photography.
Meryl Meisler
She is a photographer known for her documentation of the New York City nightlife scene during the 1970s.
Victor Hugo
He was a confidante of Warhol who helped recruit models for portrait sessions held at The Factory.
The details
The mezzanine at CLAMP features photos of Warhol by peers such as Bob Adelman, Jimmy DeSana, and Meryl Meisler. The show also highlights his early 1980s collaboration with Christopher Makos on the Altered Images series, which explored themes of beauty through drag portraits.
Timeline
Bob Adelman photographed Warhol with fellow artists in 1965.
Jimmy DeSana and Meryl Meisler captured candid images in 1977.
Warhol produced the Torsos Polaroid series in 1977.
The Sex Parts Polaroid series was produced in 1978.
The Altered Images collaboration took place in the early 1980s.
Industry Dynamics
This exhibition follows the pattern established by the extensive cataloging efforts of The Andy Warhol Museum's archival projects. It signals a shift in how private, formerly excluded erotic works are integrated into the broader public narrative of the artist's career.
Visitors can view these previously private works on the mezzanine level of the CLAMP gallery in New York City. The exhibition provides a rare opportunity to see personal Polaroid series and candid photography in a public setting.
The takeaway
The show highlights the tension between an artist's private creative experimentation and public institutional acceptance. It encourages viewers to consider how contemporary archives reshape our historical understanding of influential figures.
Further reading
Discover more about the evolving landscape of Fine Art in the city.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Artdaily.
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