Category: Art
Stevie Wonder by Richard Bernstein for Interview, June 1986. Photo (Albert Watson), pastel, pencil, airbrush and collage on foam board.
As part of the FIG Summer Show the Fashion Illustration Gallery presents a collection of works created by artist illustrator Richard Bernstein (1939 – 2002) for the cover of Andy Warhol's infamous Interview magazine.
Aretha Franklin by Richard Bernstein for Interview, December 1986. Photo (Albert Watson), charcoal, pastel, pencil, airbrush and collage on foam board.
Bernstein made the up-and-coming celebrities of the 70s and 80s such as Sylvester Stallone, Mick Jagger, Diane Lane, Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, Susan Sarandon et al, look sleek, sexy, glamorous and forever young. The covers were designed in such a way that people would think that Andy Warhol had made them because Andy’s signature was printed above the masthead. Interview became iconic and Warhol would autograph the covers of fans’ copies, never disabusing them of the notion he had done the covers himself but Richard never signed a cover and Andy never made one himself.
It is estimated that Bernstein made 120 actual portrait painting covers for Interview (starting 1972) and very few are outside the control of the estate. The group at FIG are brilliant examples including portraits of Aretha Franklin, Mick Jagger and Stevie Wonder.
Opening times: 11am – 6pm. (Closed Sunday 10th & 17th)
Mick Jagger by Richard Bernstein for Interview, February 1985. Photo (Albert Watson), pastel, pencil, airbrush and collage on foam board.
Diane Keaton by Richard Bernstein for Interview, January 1987. Photo (Herb Ritts), pastel, pencil, airbrush and collage on foam board.