FLAMBOYANT & FORBIDDEN, ONE NIGHT AT TASCHEN
Sean Loughran
Last night TASCHEN Gallery proudly unveiled the collection of George Quaintance, The Flamboyant Life and Forbidden Art. I was lucky enough to have an up close and personal with the works of Quaintance at the exclusive launch event.
TASCHEN also had on display a stunning collection of limited edition fashion, photography and celebrity books curated to perfection in one half of the gallery.
From Baselitz in 1991 through to their most recent publications with Ai Weiwei, Annie Lebovitz and the Rolling Stones, the monumental and limited edition books are the créme de la créme of their program.
The incredible and inspirational Helmut Newton book
$15,000
TASCHEN was founded in 1980 by Benedikt Taschen in Cologne, Germany. They pride themselves on quality and have stated their mission is to publish innovative and beautifully designed art books. Prices range from $10 to their most expensive publications GOAT and Helmut Newton priced at $15,000.
Working in the fashion industry, I often refer to my collection of TASCHEN books for inspiration.
GOAT (Greatest of All Time) which is one of the most expensive books in publishing history
$15,000
The larger part of the TASCHEN Gallery in Los Angeles focuses on the works of George Quaintance, an artist who lived and worked during an era when homosexuality was repressed. In an era before Stonewall, the sexual revolution, gay rights and the AIDS crisis, Quaintance and his high-camp erotic art existed in a demi-monde of borderline legality.
George Quaintance Primitive Man, 1952
$65,000
George Quaintance, the Master Painter of the Male Physique, was a vaudeville dancer, window dresser, magazine cover artist, photographer and ultimately the first great physique artist. Back in 1982, The Voice stated "Quaintance was gifted with so much drive and artistic talent that he had the ability to transcend the puritanical restrictions of the times and leave us something of his daring imagination in his paintings."
George Quaintance Dashing, 1951
$45,000
The George Quaintance exhibition opens to the public today and will continue to run until August 31st.
Thanks for the invite TASCHEN, looking forward to the next pop up!
TASCHEN GALLERY
8070 Beverly Boulevard
Los Angeles 90048
la-gallery@taschen.com
#TASCHENGALLERY
www.taschen.com