PAIGE POWELL'S UNSEEN PICS ARE A PEEK INTO 80s NYC & WARHOL'S WORLD

Andy Warhol & Kenny Scharf, Mr. Chow, New York City, 1986

Paige Powell was the associate publisher of Andy Warhol’s Interview magazine. She came to New York City from Oregon in 1980 armed with her camera and joined Warhol’s inner circle. She photographed the scene over the next decade, like her boyfriend, Jean-Michel Basquiat (captured in a series of nudes) designer Stephen Sprouse, Madonna, Keith Haring, Kenny Scharf among others.

All these images were stashed in boxes under Powell’s bed for decades, but they’ve been taken out for a new exhibit at the Portland Art Museum. Paige Powell: The Ride.

Paige Powell At 15 West 81st, New York City, 1983

The Ride, is the first part of the multimedia installation which, includes video with never-before-seen recordings of Powell’s pals, including new footage of Warhol and Haring. Photographer/director David LaChapelle also mixed a soundtrack for the second part of the installation called Beulah Land, an interactive exhibit featuring over 800 images recreating a 1984 exhibition of Powell’s photographs in NYC.

The museum is hosting several other programs and events in conjunction with the exhibit, including a conversation between Powell and co-curator Brian Ferriso today, November 19. The exhibit is up through February 21, 2016 and you can find out more here.