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Glancing into the cases of the Fleming Museum's Wilbur Room might not immediately tip you off to the artist whose photographs are displayed within. The muted tones and stark lighting of the snapshots don't quite pop like Andy Warhol's colorful, iconic screen prints do. But the Polaroids are, in fact, the foundation of much of his work, having served as a sort of first draft for the commissioned screen prints that followed.

The exhibition, "Andy Warhol: Fashionistas and Celebrities," displays 85 of the 150 photos recently gifted to the university by the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts. UVM was one of 183 institutions to benefit from the foundation's gift.

Although the images offer a contrast to the work for which Warhol is famous, they provide a more intimate connection to the artist's process -- and to the world of 70s and 80s pop culture, celebrity and fashion of which Warhol was a part.

Above, see a few of the images, and hear curator Aimee Marcereau DeGalan discuss the exhibit and the significance of the work. The photos are on display -- as well as fashion inspired by Warhol's art -- at the Fleming Museum through April 25.

Learn more about how you can win the limited edition Warhol-inspired dress/beach cover-up by fashion designer Diane von Furstenberg featured in the exhibition.

PUBLISHED

01-27-2010
Amanda Waite