You Can Own Intimate Snapshots of Warhol, Lennon, and Basquiat

Perhaps the only thing more iconic than the artworks of Andy Warhol are photographs of Andy Warhol. Many of the inimitable snaps were taken by Christopher Makos, part of the star’s inner circle throughout the 1970s and ’80s.

Andy Warhol, Detroit, 1985 Photo: Christopher Makos

Through July 25, the online auction house Paddle8 is having a sale of many never-before-offered photographs of the art star and the entourage that surrounded him. The sale, entitled “Scene: Warhol by Makos,” is comprised of 18 photographs, each a new edition of ten, offered in a buy-now format priced at $2,000.

Andy Warhol at Philip Johnson’s Glass House, 1981 Photo: Christopher Makos

A key figure in Warhol’s Factory scene, Makos managed to capture his subjects’ very essence, often getting past their larger-than-life personas to present something more intimate and raw. The sale includes a shot of Warhol striking a pose with bikers on the West Side Highway, for example, a portrait of Warhol in front of Philip Johnson’s Glass House in Connecticut and in Tiananmen Square, and pictured with friends John Lennon, Liza Minnelli, and Halston.

Andy Warhol Kissing John Lennon, 1978 Photo: Christopher Makos

Also on offer are photographs of Jean-Michel Basquiat, David Hockney, and Keith Haring as well as rock stars Mick Jagger, Debbie Harry, and Lou Reed.

The Gang of Four at Studio 54 (Andy Warhol, Liza Minnelli, Bianca Jagger, and Halston), 1978 Photo: Christopher Makos

In addition to his unforgettable portraits, Makos had other talents. One was discovering emerging artists early on. He was the first to show Warhol and Haring the work of Jean-Michel Basquiat, for example. He also once worked as an apprentice for Man Ray. With a history like that, Makos’s life may seem just like another art world myth, but luckily he has the photos to prove it—and now bidders can too. paddle8.com

Jean-Michel Basquiat, 1984 Photo: Christopher Makos

Andy Warhol Tiananmen Square Photo: Christopher Makos

Portrait of Christopher Makos and Andy Warhol