Nicknamed “Pop's Crystal Ball” interview A magazine founded by Andy Warhol in 1969. The magazine celebrates zeitgeist values of wealth, beauty, and fame, which is immediately evident from its iconic cover photo of A-list celebrities. Many thought Warhol himself was behind the cover, but the works were all Richard Bernstein's.
Richard Bernstein and Andy Warhol, 1978, photographed by Bobby Grossman. Photo courtesy of NeueHouse Madison Square.
“Richard Bernstein is my favorite artist. He makes everyone look so famous,” Warhol said. He became interested in this artist after participating in his solo exhibition in 1965. From 1972 to 1989, Bernstein created 189 mixed-media, multicolor covers for the magazine, featuring artists such as Cher and Stevie. Wonder, Mick Jagger, and his dear friend Grace Jones, who is the godfather of his son. His work has been exhibited at the Museum of Modern Art, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the National Portrait Gallery. A new exhibition at New York's Neue House will feature more than 20 of his star-studded portraits.
Grace Jones on the cover interview Magazine October 1984. Photo courtesy of NeueHouse Madison Square.
Working out of a studio in Chelsea, Bernstein found success at the heart of New York's social scene, in the midst of a hedonistic, celebrity-centric culture. He had a Studio 54 VIP card. If the club wanted a particular celebrity to attend, it would call Bernstein and invite him directly.His work symbolizes the glamorous era of that time.
Bernstein was also an innovator who created deepfake nudes of celebrities decades before the advent of AI. In 1968, he created one of his most controversial works. nude beatles, a neon Technicolor group portrait in which the heads of the Fab Four are superimposed on the lithe bodies of naked men. The prints were confiscated by order of a French judge, and the Beatles' label, Apple Records, lost a lawsuit against him. When Bernstein later met John Lennon, he impressed upon him that he had missed the opportunity to use the scandalous image on the album cover.
Cover image of Isabella Rossellini for the January 1982 issue of Interview magazine by Bernstein. Photo courtesy of NeueHouse Madison Square.
Regarding magazine covers, interview He commissioned other popular analogue photographers to create silver gelatin prints and delivered them to Bernstein for processing and dazzling before going to print. Rory Triffon, executor of Richard Bernstein's estate, elaborates on the process: Watson and Peter Strongwater. ” Each of these photographers provided Bernstein with a group of silver gelatin prints, and Bernstein “selected the best images, cropped them, enlarged them, and created illustrations. They airbrushed, painted, and collaged them. The artwork is approved and printed by Andy. Taken together, the entire collaborative cover is the final result of a great photographer, illustrated by one of the greatest illustrators in the pop art world. Drawn and approved by the Pop Pope himself, it’s truly amazing.”
The June 1984 cover of Interview magazine featured Kevin Costner by Richard Bernstein. Photo courtesy of NeueHouse Madison Square.
Thirty years before Damien Hirst's famous pill paintings were unveiled, Richard Bernstein exhibited his pill paintings while living and working in Paris. Pablo Picasso's daughter Paloma Picasso was his art assistant. Picasso once praised his former boss, saying: “Bernstein imparts wit in beauty, fantasy in richness, depth in charm, and gives newcomers an instant patina.”
exhibition Interview Magazine Cover, 1972-1989: Andy Warhol's Interview Magazine Portrait of Richard Bernstein will be held at NeueHouse in Madison Square, New York from March 26 to June 30, 2024.
In September 1981, Fran Libowitz appeared on the cover of Interview magazine. Written by Richard Bernstein. Photo courtesy of NeueHouse Madison Square.
“The Interview Magazine Covers, 1972–1989: Richard Bernstein's Portraits for Andy Warhol's Interview Magazine” is on display at the Neue House Madison Square, 110 East Madison Square, New York, until June 30th.
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