Highsnobiety
Double Tap to Zoom
© The Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation. Used by permission.
1 / 11

It's been 30 years since Robert Mapplethorpe died aged 42 from AIDS-related complications, yet his work is more popular than ever. Raf Simons' SS17 collection was memorably dedicated to the artist, and this year alone the photographer is the subject of both biopic Mapplethorpe and a two-part Guggenheim retrospective, "Implicit Tensions: Mapplethorpe Now," which opened on Friday.

In the age of Grindr collabs, extremely NSFW fashion campaigns, and the overall easing of sexual mores, it's easy to underestimate how controversial Mapplethorpe's work was when it debuted in the ’70s. Working in a time of extreme homophobia, Mapplethorpe's classically lit homoerotic photos were extremely divisive.

Your Highsnobiety privacy settings have blocked this Instagram post.

The first part of the Guggenheim exhibition spans Mapplethorpe's entire career and showcases early polaroids, self-portraits, his flower series, and the artist's iconic nudes and portraits of the BDSM scene.

While the shock value of Mapplethorpe's images has lessened, some modern readings of his work accuse the photographer of fetishizing his black subjects. The second part of the exhibition, due to open in summer, addresses this, exploring Mapplethorpe's enduring and complex legacy and putting a selection of his images alongside works by artists Rotimi Fani-Kayode, Lyle Ashton Harris, Glenn Ligon, Zanele Muholi, Catherine Opie, Paul Mpagi Sepuya, and more.

The first part of the exhibition runs until July 10, with the second opening on July 24 and running until January 5, 2020.

Browse images of Mapplethorpe's work above and head to the Guggenheim for more information.

The Guggenheim 1071 5th Avenue New York, NY 10128

And in case you missed it, you can see the trailer for the Mapplethorpe biopic below.

Your Highsnobiety privacy settings have blocked this YouTube video.
We Recommend
  • Denim Tears Stitches the Game Behind the Game (EXCLUSIVE)
  • Get In—Tommy Hilfiger Is Behind the Wheel of "F1® The Movie"
  • Events, Exhibitions & Exclusive Collabs: Everything Happening at Not In Milan
  • ICYMI: Inside Lagavulin and Connor McKnight's NYFW Grand Finale
  • A London-Based Music Label Is Behind This Texturally Stunning Nike Air Max
What To Read Next
  • Sculpting Life Out of Sneaker Death (EXCLUSIVE)
  • Nike’s All-New Air Max Is Simpler Than the Rest
  • The Pharrell-Fueled Clipse Comeback
  • Caffeine, Klarna, & 5Ks: Inside Austin’s Most Connected Run Club
  • How Marc Jacobs, Kim Jones, and Virgil Abloh Made Collaborations Luxurious
  • At PFW, HUGO FORWARD x Zellerfeld Rubberized the Runway