Conrad Black

c. 1979

“Portraits of the 70s” at the Whitney

The Whitney Museum mounted Andy Warhol: Portraits of the 70s, the decade's commissioned portraits, among them Yves Saint Laurent, Gianni Agnelli, David Hockney, Roy Lichtenstein and Mick Jagger. Reviews were mixed: the New York Times critic Hilton Kramer wrote that Warhol's art belonged less to the history of painting than to the history of publicity.

1979

Paints a racing car

In 1979 Warhol painted the body of a racing car himself, applying paint with whatever came to hand, including his finger. He said he was trying to paint what speed looks like.

1980

Co-founder of the New York Academy of Art

In 1980 Warhol co-founded the New York Academy of Art, a school devoted to restoring traditional approaches to artistic training. Fellow co-founder Stuart Pivar later observed that Modernism had become boring for Warhol.

1980

Creates “Ten Portraits of Jews of the Twentieth Century”

The series Ten Portraits of Jews of the Twentieth Century drew a wide range of responses, some of them strongly critical.

early 1980s

The end of his relationship with Jed Johnson

After the end of his relationship with Johnson, his only sustained romantic partnership, Warhol went through depression and significant weight loss. He turned to modelling, signing with the Zoli Agency in 1981 and later being represented by Ford Models.

19 June 1982 – 28 September 1982

Exhibition: documenta 7