Sex Parts (FS. II 172) exemplifies Andy Warhol’s pioneering exploration of art, sexuality, and identity. Created in 1978, the portfolio emerged from Warhol’s private photo sessions with models he met through New York’s gay bathhouses and clubs—sessions organized by his assistant, Victor Hugo. Warhol later divided the resulting images into two bodies of work: Torsos, focusing on fragmented bodies in sensual poses, and *Sex Parts*, which candidly depicted explicit sexual acts, thereby confronting the traditional divide between fine art and obscenity.

Sex Parts (FS. II 172) captures a moment of raw intimacy between two men, focusing solely on their pelvic regions. The composition emphasizes the imminent act of penetration, with one figure poised and the other in a receptive posture, underscoring the dynamics of trust, vulnerability, and mutual consent. By stripping the image of personal identifiers, Warhol universalizes the experience, transforming a specific moment into a broader meditation on human connection and desire.

Like the other five prints in the portfolio, Sex Parts (FS. II 172) reflects Warhol’s fearless approach to depicting explicit subject matter, urging viewers to reassess their assumptions about eroticism and the boundaries of public art. His decision to focus tightly on physical interaction, devoid of broader narrative context, challenges traditional perceptions of intimacy and invites deeper contemplation about the nature of physical relationships.

Despite resistance from galleries and art dealers, Warhol remained committed to this bold investigation of sexuality and identity—especially his own experiences as a gay man. The Sex Parts series captures a critical moment not only in Warhol’s career but also within the larger societal shift sparked by the growing LGBTQ+ rights movement.

Rendered in stark black and white with a sketch-like immediacy reminiscent of Warhol’s experimental films, Sex Parts (FS. II 172) stands as a candid and powerful expression of male sexuality. Through these intimate portrayals, Warhol invites the viewer to reflect on the universal themes of vulnerability, trust, and the profound human longing for connection.