
Andy Warhol
Signed and numbered in pencil lower right
78.7 x 59 cm
Sex Parts (FS. II 175) Complete Portfolio, Sex Parts (FS. II 175) exemplifies Andy Warhol’s groundbreaking exploration of art, sexuality, and identity. Created in 1978, the series originated from Warhol’s private photo sessions with models he encountered in New York’s gay bathhouses and clubs—a project facilitated by his assistant, Victor Hugo. Warhol later divided the resulting photographs into two distinct collections: *Torsos*, which explored sensual forms, and *Sex Parts*, which boldly captured overt sexual acts, challenging traditional distinctions between art and obscenity.
In Sex Parts (FS. II 175), Warhol presents an unflinching, direct view of one man holding another’s genitalia. By focusing solely on the hands and genitalia, he strips away societal constructs surrounding sexuality and identity, laying bare the tactile reality of human connection. The composition emphasizes pure, physical intimacy, framing the act as one of unfiltered homoerotic desire and emotional connection, devoid of narrative or judgment.
Like the other five prints in the portfolio, Sex Parts (FS. II 175) reflects Warhol’s audacious approach to depicting explicit imagery, compelling viewers to reconsider preconceived ideas about the separation between private intimacy and public art. By isolating specific physical gestures, Warhol reframes eroticism not as spectacle, but as a profound expression of trust, vulnerability, and human need.
Despite resistance from galleries and collectors, Warhol remained unwavering in his commitment to examining themes of sexuality, desire, and personal identity—particularly his own experiences as a gay man. The Sex Parts series not only marked a critical phase in Warhol’s artistic evolution but also captured a pivotal moment in shifting societal attitudes, propelled by the burgeoning LGBTQ+ movement.
Rendered in stark black and white with a sketch-like immediacy reminiscent of his experimental films, Sex Parts (FS. II 175) stands as a raw and candid portrayal of male sexuality. Through these works, Warhol invites viewers to reflect on the universal experiences of vulnerability, intimacy, and the profound human longing for connection.
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