In the upcoming weeks the Sean Kelly Gallery in New York will present 50 Americans, an exhibit of works of art by the legendary American photographer Robert Mapplethorpe. The fifty pieces selected for the gallery were chosen by 50 different Americans, one from each state and a diverse mix of occupations, ages, races, and backgrounds. Those chosen looked through Mr. Mapplethorpe’s catalog of over 2000 photos and were tasked to pick the one picture that resonated with them the most.
Mr. Cartoon found a photo of Debby Harry shot in 1978. He spoke on his choice saying, “I chose the photo of Blondie because she is a graffiti icon and I remember being a teenager watching a music video of her – I think it was Rapture – and that stuck in my mind. In the video there was a Lee graffiti piece and a Fab 5 Freddy piece and, being from LA, this was my introduction to New York Graffiti. In this photo I like her style, and her eye contact with the camera – it captures who she is.” The event runs from May 6 to June 18, 2011. Check out the portrait he chose below.
Sean Kelly Gallery
528 West 29th Street
New York NY 10001