Steve Schapiro. Andy Warhol and Friends

Steve Schapiro. Andy Warhol and Friends is a documentary and biographical photography book about Andy Warhol and his social circle, published by TASCHEN in 2024, with 236 pages. This volume offers a detailed overview of Andy Warhol's rise, from the New York underground scene to his consecration as a 20th-century cultural icon. Through more than 120 unpublished and restored photographs by renowned photojournalist Steve Schapiro, the book documents Warhol in crucial moments of his creativity, behind the scenes of his legendary Factory, and interacting with his entourage and the vibrant cultural scene of the time. The narrative includes notable encounters with figures like The Velvet Underground in Los Angeles, making it one of the most relevant coffee table books on the subject.

In 1965, Steve Schapiro began a photo essay for LIFE Magazine about Andy Warhol, who was then consolidating his position in Pop Art, drawing inspiration from mass culture and commercial objects. Warhol, with his enigmatic image and charisma, was fully aware of the importance of being documented. Schapiro, an insightful observer, captured Warhol's meteoric rise from a cult artist of the New York underground to an absolute symbol of the 20th century. Ironically, the original report was never published, and many of these images are presented for the first time in Steve Schapiro. Andy Warhol and Friends, recovered from forgotten negatives in Schapiro's archives. This is an ideal luxury gift for art and photography enthusiasts.

Between 1965 and 1966, Schapiro followed Warhol and his entourage of superstars, including Edie Sedgwick and Nico, at exhibition openings, underground film shoots, producing silkscreens at the Factory, and through the streets of New York. The book also records Warhol's first retrospective at the Institute of Contemporary Art in Philadelphia, a milestone that solidified "Andymania". The documentary journey culminates in Los Angeles, with the exhibition of "Silver Clouds" at the Ferus Gallery, encounters at the eccentric The Castle, and the production of an iconic show by the band The Velvet Underground. This book, presented in an acrylic case, is a centerpiece for any collection and an excellent option for corporate gifts.