Paige Powell: Difference between revisions

{{Short description|American photographer}}

'''Paige Powell''' (born 1950 or 1951)<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Trebay |first1=Guy |last2=Ferla |first2=Ruth La |date=November 12, 2018 |title=Tales From the Warhol Factory |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/12/style/andy-warhol-factory-history.html |access-date=2022-06-02 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> is an American photographer, [[curator]], art [[consultant]], and [[animal rights activist]]. Powell was the public affairs director of the [[Portland zoo|Portland Zoo]] before she moved to [[New York City]] in 1980. Between 1982 and 1994, she worked at ''[[Interview (magazine)|Interview]]'' magazine. She started out selling advertising and eventually became the associate publisher. As [[Andy Warhol]]'s close friend and confidante, she became immersed in the 1980s New York City art scene. Since returning to her native [[Portland, Oregon|Portland]] in 1994, she has split her time between working on art projects and supporting animal charities.

Powell was raised [[Southwest Portland, Oregon]], the daughter of the founding partner of a successful insurance agency.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=Dana |first=Gail |date=July 10, 2003 |title=APaige in History |url=https://pamplinmedia.com/pt/11-features/120011-a-paige-in-history |website=Portland Tribune}}</ref> Powell volunteered at Portland Zoo teaching [[chimpanzees]] sign language and playing with them as part of the chimpanzee enrichment program before she became the public affairs director at the zoo.<ref name=":2" /> She studied art in Greece before workingat[[Blue ribbon sports|Blue Ribbon Sports]].<ref name=":2" />

Powell moved to New York City in December 1980.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=January 9, 2013 |title=Paige Powell on Andy Warhol, Fashion and America's Art Scene |url=https://spearswms.com/paige-powell-on-andy-warhol-fashion-and-americas-art-scene/ |access-date=2022-05-29 |website=spearswms.com |language=en-GB}}</ref> She wanted to work for either film director [[Woody Allen]] in a production role or [[Pop art|pop artist]] Andy Warhol at [[Interview (magazine)|''Interview'' magazine]].<ref name=":0" /> "I approached both, and was offered two jobs, but it just so happened that the one at Interview, selling advertising, started first," she said.<ref name=":0" /> In 1981, Powell began working at ''Interview'' and was eventually promoted to the position of associate publisher.<ref name=":2" /> She became a regular at Warhol's [[The Factory|Factory]] whilst also working part-time as a freelance [[Photojournalism|photojournalist]] for the Japanese magazine [[Brutus (magazine)|''Brutus'']].<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 3, 2019 |title=RSVP: Dinner with Andy Warhol and Paige Powell |url=https://vmagazine.com/article/dinner-with-andy-warhol-and-paige-powell/ |access-date=2022-06-02 |website=V Magazine}}</ref>

In April 1983, Powell held an exhibition with [[Jean-Michel Basquiat]] as the main artist.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Dolding |first=Sian |date=January 30, 2014 |title=Jean-Michel Basquiat, Reclining Nude |url=https://www.dazeddigital.com/photography/article/18660/1/jean-michel-basquiat-reclining-nude |access-date=2022-05-28 |website=Dazed |language=en}}</ref> "I had some friends who had an apartment in New York but they were living in [[Geneva]], so there was basically no furniture, and I asked if I could do a show in the apartment. My boyfriend at the time was one of Andy’s technical assistants and he thought I should really get Jean-Michel [for the exhibition]," she recalled.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=Paige Powell on documenting '80s New York |url=https://www.grandlife.com/culture/interviews/photographer-paige-powell-interview-new-york |access-date=2022-05-29 |website=GrandLife |language=en}}</ref> Graffiti artists [[Rammellzee]], [[A-One (graffiti artist)|A-One]], [[Lady Pink]], Kool Koor, and [[Toxic (graffiti artist)|Toxic]] were also included in the show.<ref name=":1" /> Powell sold some of Basquiat's paintings and eventually they began dating.<ref name=":5">{{Cite book |last1=Warhol |first1=Andy |url=http://archive.org/details/andywarholdiarie00warh |title=The Andy Warhol diaries |last2=Hackett |first2=Pat |date=1989 |publisher=Warner Books |year=1989 |isbn=978-0-446-51426-2 |location=New York |pages=593}}</ref><ref name=":2" /> Through their relationship, Basquiat and Warhol became close friends.<ref name=":2" /> In August 1983, Basquiat moved into a loft that Warhol owned on [[Great Jones Street]]in[[NoHo, Manhattan|NoHo]] and soon they began collaborating.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Hoban |first=Phoebe |url=http://archive.org/details/basquiatquickkil0000hoba_y1x9 |title=Basquiat: A Quick Killing in Art |publisher=Viking |others=Internet Archive |year=1998 |isbn=978-0-670-85477-6 |location=New York |pages=195–198}}</ref>

Although Powell and Basquiat ended their romantic relationship in 1984,<ref name=":5" /> she remained close friends with Warhol until his death in February 1987. "We were attached like mittens.... we lived eight blocks from one another, we worked together and partied together. We ate the same [[macrobiotic food]], had the same Japanese [[masseuse]], used the same [[Olympus camera]] and even had the same haircut for a while."<ref name=":0" /> They had discussed adopting a child together, and Warhol wanted to work with her directly on commissioned projects.<ref name=":0" /> At Warhol's burial, Powell placed a copy of ''Interview'' and a bottle of Beautiful Eau de Parfum by [[The Estée Lauder Companies|Estée Lauder]] into his grave before it was covered with earth.<ref name=":0" />

Powell was an early adopter of [[camcorder]] technology and often filmed her friends. She forged friendships with creatives such as artist [[Francesco Clemente]], novelist [[Tama Janowitz]], and fashion designer [[Stephen Sprouse]] among others.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=Paige Powell: The Ride |url=https://portlandartmuseum.org/exhibitions/paige-powell-the-ride/ |access-date=2022-05-29 |website=Portland Art Museum |language=en-US}}</ref> Powell was instrumental in launching the careerofMexican artist [[Julio Galán]].<ref name=":8">{{Cite web |date=November 18, 2022 |title=Lot Essay: Julio Galán (1958-2006) - El Hermano (The Eggplant Boy and the Santa Claus Girl) |url=https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-6398163 |website=Christie's}}</ref> She organized two shows for the artist in New York City.<ref name=":8" />

While working at ''Interview'', Powell and Janowitz developed a Manhattan [[public-access television]] program called ''It’s a Dog's Life'', profiling adoptable animals in half-hour segments.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Diamond |first=Wendy |date=2003-09-17 |title=The Mystery Behind Paige Powell: Finding Her Sherlock |url=https://animalfair.com/2003/09/17/mystery-paige-powell-finding-sherlock/ |access-date=2022-06-02 |website=Animal Fair |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":4" />

Following her return to Portland in 1994, Powell has split her time between working for non-profit animal-protection organizations and as a curator and art consultant.<ref name=":0" /> In 1999, Powell founded the Pearl Arts Foundation with developer Homer Williams, becoming its executive director. The Pearl Arts Foundation was dissolved in 2003.<ref name=":4" />

In 2001, Powell and her friend Kim Singer were sued by John Lindberg over the kidnapping of a boxer named Shaq which they believed was being neglected.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dawdy |first=Philip |date=November 27, 2001 |title=Dog. Gone. |url=https://www.wweek.com/portland/article-549-dog-gone.html |access-date=2022-06-02 |website=Willamette Week |language=en}}</ref> After they took the dog, he developed an intestinal ailment and was euthanized when no one volunteered to pay for an operation.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dawdy |first=Philip |date=January 8, 2002 |title=Dog. Dead |url=https://www.wweek.com/portland/article-690-dog-dead.html |access-date=2022-06-02 |website=Willamette Week |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":4" /> Powell was unaware that the dogs were euthanized until afterward.<ref name=":4" />

Powell curated the art collection for [[The Nines (hotel)|The Nines]] hotel in Portland.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Modern Design Hotel - Custom Art Collection {{!}} The Nines Hotel |url=https://www.thenines.com/art/ |access-date=2022-05-29 |website=The Nines |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Calhoon |first=Martha |date=May 19, 2009 |title=The Nines Becomes an Unlikely Showcase for Portland's Creative Class |url=https://www.pdxmonthly.com/arts-and-culture/2009/05/greenroom-0109 |access-date=2022-05-29 |website=Portland Monthly |language=en-US}}</ref> Her clients also include [[The Lexington Hotel NYC]],<ref>{{Cite web |date=2013-10-29 |title=The Art of The Lexington |url=https://www.interviewmagazine.com/culture/lexington-hotel |access-date=2022-05-29 |website=Interview Magazine |language=en-US}}</ref> The Baronette Renaissance Detroit-Novi Hotel,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dave |date=January 6, 2011 |title=Baronette Renaissance Hotel Lobby by d-ash design |url=https://www.contemporist.com/baronette-renaissance-hotel-lobby-by-d-ash-design/ |access-date=2022-05-29 |website=CONTEMPORIST}}</ref> [[JW Marriott Hotels|JW Marriott]] Denver Cheery Creek,<ref>{{Cite web |title=JW Marriott a Contemporary Stay in Denver's Cherry Creek |url=https://www.justluxe.com/travel/hotel/feature-1585282.php |access-date=2022-05-29 |website=JustLuxe |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2011-05-27 |title=In Denver, local art finds room at the inn |url=https://www.denverpost.com/2011/05/27/in-denver-local-art-finds-room-at-the-inn/ |access-date=2022-05-29 |website=The Denver Post |language=en-US}}</ref> and the Renaissance Pittsburgh Hotel.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2009-12-11 |title=Meet the Minds Behind Restaurant Design - David Ashen |url=https://hospitalitydesign.com/projects/main/meet-the-minds-behind-restaurant-design-david-ashen/ |access-date=2022-05-29 |website=Hospitality Design |language=en-US}}</ref>

Powell was instrumental in mounting a retrospective exhibition of the work of Stephen Sprouse at [[Deitch Projects]] in 2009, via her friend curator [[Jeffrey Deitch]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dazed |date=February 5, 2009 |title=Stephen Sprouse Rock On Mars Exhibition |url=https://www.dazeddigital.com/artsandculture/article/1761/1/stephen-sprouse-rock-on-mars-exhibition |access-date=2022-05-29 |website=Dazed |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":0" />

Powell documented the rising careers of her friends, musician [[Thomas Lauderdale]] of [[Pink Martini]] and filmmaker [[Gus Van Sant]].<ref name=":3" /> Lauderdale encouraged Powell to go through her archive of 1980s photographs and to start showing them to the public.<ref name=":1" /> In 2014, she had her first exhibition, ''Jean-Michel Basquiat, Reclining Nude,'' at the Suzanne Geiss Gallery in New York.<ref name=":1" /> Basquiat's estate opposed publishing the intimate photos, which depict Basquiat nude.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://news.artnet.com/art-world/jean-michel-basquiat-nudes-336635 | title=These Basquiat Nudes Could be Banned | date=October 2015 }}</ref>

In 2019, Powell collaborated with [[Gucci]] for a series of installations of her photographs called ''Beulah Land'', which was named after the bar in [[Manhattan]] where Powell covered the walls in photos of her "non-biological family."<ref name=":6">{{Cite web |last=Kerry |first=McDermott |date=November 6, 2019 |title=Paige Powell's Photos Of Icons Of 1980s New York Were A Precursor To Instagram |url=https://www.vogue.co.uk/arts-and-lifestyle/article/paige-powell-beulah-land-gucci-dover-street-market |access-date=2022-05-29 |website=British Vogue |language=en-GB}}</ref> It was first displayed at Gucci on [[Wooster Street (Manhattan)|Wooster Street]] in New York and then [[Dover Street Market]] in [[Ginza]], Tokyo, and London.<ref name=":7">{{Cite web |title=Clubkid Photographer Paige Powell and Gucci Turn Dover Street Market London Into a Time Machine |url=https://www.10magazine.com/news/paige-powell-gucci-beulah-land-dover-street-market-london/ |website=10 Magazine|date=7 November 2019 }}</ref> Coinciding with the installation, a three-book set was published celebrating Powell's images of culture, art, and nightlife in 1980s New York.<ref>{{Cite web |date=April 18, 2019 |title=Gucci Celebrates Paige Powell's New Book |url=https://www.lofficielusa.com/save-the-date/gucci-wooster-paige-powell-2019 |access-date=2022-05-29 |website=L'Officiel USA |language=en-US}}</ref>

[[Claire Forlani]] as Gina Cardinale in the [[Julian Schnabel]] film ''[[Basquiat (film)|Basquiat]]'' (1996) is a composite character of Basquiat's girlfriends, including Powell.<ref name=":2" /> Powell appeared in the documentary film ''[[Basquiat: Rage to Riches]]'' (2017) and in the [[Netflix]] docuseries ''[[The Andy Warhol Diaries (TV series)|The Andy Warhol Diaries]]'' (2022).<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-03-09 |title=Andrew Rossi's New Docuseries Brings Andy Warhol's Private Diaries to Life |url=https://www.interviewmagazine.com/film/andrew-rossi-new-docuseries-brings-andy-warhol-private-diaries-to-life |access-date=2022-05-29 |website=Interview Magazine |language=en-US}}</ref>

* ''Jean-Michel Basquiat, Reclining Nude'' at Suzanne Geiss Company in New York, Jan 16, 2014–Feb 22, 2014.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Paige Powell: Jean-Michel Basquiat Reclining Nude |url=https://www.artsy.net/ |access-date=2022-05-28 |website=Artsy}}</ref>

* ''Paige Powell: The Ride'' at [[Portland Art Museum]] in Portland, Nov 5, 2015–April 3, 2016.<ref name=":3" />

* ''(Self)'' at Douglas F. Cooley Memorial Art Gallery in Portland, August 29, 2017–October 1, 2017.<ref>{{Cite web |title=(SELF) |url=https://preview-art.com/highlight/self/ |access-date=2022-05-29 |website=Preview Art Magazine |language=en-US}}</ref>

* ''Beulah Land'' at [[Gucci]] Wooster in New York, April 17, 2019–May, 17 2019.<ref name=":6" />

* ''Beulah Land'' at Dover Street Market in Tokyo, September 7, 2019–September 26, 2019.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Paige Powell "Beulah Land" Installation at DSMG by Gucci – TOKYO DANDY |url=https://www.tokyodandy.com/paige-powell-beulah-land-installation-at-dsmg-by-gucci/ |access-date=2022-05-29 |language=en-US}}</ref>

* ''Beulah Land London'' at Dover Street Market in London, November 6, 2019–November 21, 2019.<ref name=":7" />

* {{Official website|https://www.paigepowellphotography.com/}}

* {{IMDb name|1174074}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Powell, Paige}}

[[Category:Artists from Portland, Oregon]]

[[Category:American women photographers]]

[[Category:American women photojournalists]]

[[Category:American photojournalists]]

[[Category:American art curators]]

[[Category:American consultants]]

[[Category:American animal rights activists]]

[[Category:American women curators]]

[[Category:1950s births]]

[[Category:Living people]]