15 Rare Celebrity Photos Taken by Andy Warhol (15 photos)

Few people realize that Andy Warhol—a titan of pop art and modern culture—was not only a painter, producer, designer, writer, collector, magazine publisher, and filmmaker, but also a remarkably talented photographer.





Warhol remains an iconic figure in contemporary art. Although he never called himself a photographer, he famously declared in 1980:

"I don't believe in art, but I believe in photography."



1. Lou Reed and Ronnie Cutrone.

Warhol embraced photography as an art form late in his career and life. Over his final decade, he was virtually inseparable from his camera, yet his photographic legacy remains surprisingly little-known.





2. John Benitez and Madonna.

Warhol gifted much of his photo archive to his personal secretary, Pat Hackett. In September 2013, a collection of 150 of these prints went under the hammer. The silver gelatin prints were developed from 35mm negatives shot between 1976 and 1987.



3. Debbie Harry.

In his final years, Warhol captured countless candid and unconventional shots, particularly of his famous peers. Many of his celebrity friends regularly frequented the same nightspots or hung out at his studio, The Factory.



4. A young Sting.

Liza Minnelli, John Lennon, Rudolf Nureyev, Ted Kennedy, Sylvester Stallone, Man Ray, Joan Collins—Warhol shot Hollywood royalty, New York bohemians, and nightlife regulars alike. He drew no lines between social spheres.



5. Mick Jagger with author William S. Burroughs.



6. Human rights advocate and former actress Bianca Jagger.



7. Ronnie Wood of The Rolling Stones.



8. Bruce Springsteen.



9. Warhol was equally fascinated by the mundane. Alongside star-studded portraits, his collection includes everyday scenes like this shot of public restrooms.



10. The collection also features never-before-seen self-portraits, such as this one of Warhol in a green sweater, eating cornflakes from a mug.



11. This photo of John Lennon was taken in New York in 1979, just a year before he was killed. The joker photobombing behind him is Andy's friend, the fashion designer Halston.



12. Andy Warhol and actress Farrah Fawcett.



13. Mark Gero and Liza Minnelli.



14. Liberace.



15. Warhol passed away in 1987. He produced only a single print for each photograph, making these images truly one of a kind.