Jackie Beat knows a good looking hunk of man flesh when she sees one. And as one of the world’s premiere drag artists (Roseanne Barr called her “the greatest”), she knows a thing or two about style and about pushing boundaries. Christie’s wanted her take on a collection of Warhol images being offered in an upcoming sale: “For Members Only: Eyes on the Guise,” a large collection of gay-pride-themed drawings and images by the gender-bending master of Pop Art — some racy, some reserved, each a celebration of male sexuality in all its forms.
As Beat told us recently for one of our Warholian Questionnaires, she was first seduced by one of Andy’s album covers: “As a young homosexual, I remember being downright entranced by the album cover for The Rolling Stones’ Sticky Fingers, looking at it over and over and over again,” she said. “When I got a little older, I became obsessed with the movie Andy Warhol’s BAD. As Susan Tyrrell says at the end, ‘Looks aren’t everything.'”
Beat’s selection reflects the genuine impact Warhol’s art and personality had on her life — in turns erotic, historic and sensitive. Here are the ten she loved most, accompanied by quotes culled from the deep well of Andy’s wit and wisdom:
“During the 60s, I think, people forgot what emotions were supposed to be. And I don’t think they’ve ever remembered. I think that once you see emotions from a certain angle, you can never think of them as real again. That’s what more or less has happened to me.”
Andy Warhol | Halston and Victor Hugo on the Beach (c. 1981)
unique gelatin silver print | 25.4 x 20.3 cm.
“I didn’t really change. All that happened was I moved my work from a department store window… to a gallery. I didn’t change my style.”
Andy Warhol | Male Portrait (c. 1960)
black ballpoint on paper | 43.5 x 35.9 cm.
“I’m having boys come and model nude for photos for the new paintings I’m doing. But I shouldn’t call them nudes. It should be something more artistic. Like ‘Landscapes.’ Landscapes.”
Andy Warhol | Reclining Male Nude (c.1956)
blue ballpoint on paper | 42.5 x 35.6 cm.
“Fantasy love is much better than reality love. Never doing it is very exciting. The most exciting attractions are between two opposites that never meet.”
Andy Warhol | Miguel Bose (1983)
screenprint in colors on paper, one of a small number of impressions, presumably unique in this color combination | 54.6 x 77.5 cm.
“I think the youth of today are terrific; they’re much older and they know more about things than they used to.”
Andy Warhol | Tomas Arana (1980)
three unique Polaroid prints | 10.8 x 8.6 cm
“It’s hard work to look like the complete opposite of what nature made you and then to be an imitation… of what was only a fantasy… in the first place.”
Andy Warhol | Andy Warhol in Drag (1981)
two unique gelatin silver prints | 20.3 x 25.4 cm.
“I’d prefer to remain a mystery, I never like to give my background, and anyway, I make it all up different every time I’m asked.”
Andy Warhol | Unidentified Male (c. 1956)
black ballpoint on paper | 42.5 x 35.3 cm.
