R. Mapplethorpe was an American photographer, born in 1946 and died of AIDS in 1989. He said that he was influenced by artists such as Marce Duchamp and Joseph Cornell for his works.
He took his first photos in the mid-70s with a Polaroid camera and then he integrated them to some collages. "Polaroids" was his first exhibition in solo at the Light Gallery in New York City, in 1973.
His works were qualified of "pornography" (even by the artist himself!) but the aim was not shocking people but "looking for things he has never seen before". You will easily imagine that he was one of the most controversial photograph of his time.
Two years after the exhibition he changed his Polaroid camera for a Hasselblad medium-format camera and he started to take picture of his circle of friends (artists, pornography film star, musicians, etc...).
He actually also made the album cover of Patti Smith's album "Horse", and series of portraits and parties for magazines.
You will find below some "classic" photos, but unfortunately I will not publish some of his pornographic works as some would describe it, because I think it would be inappropriate and shocking.
Anyway enjoy his photos.
David Hockney, 1976
Deborah Harry, 1978
Pictures/Self Portrait, 1977
Thomas, 1987
Patti Smith, 1976
