Andy Warhol at Modern Art & Design

Andy Warhol, "Mick Jagger"

Warhol's fascination with fame and celebrity shines through not only in his art but also in his lifestyle. He was part of New York's innermost celebrity circles from the 1960s onwards, mixing with stars from Bill Murray to John Lennon. Of particular note was Warhol's friendship with Mick Jagger.

Andy Warhol spent much time with Mick Jagger and his then-wife, Bianca. Their relationship, chronicled in Warhol biographies and articles, was highly publicised and, in many ways, symbolised the mythical jet-set icons of the 1970s. When Jagger hired Warhol to design Rolling Stone's legendary Sticky Fingers album in 1971, Warhol was given total artistic freedom. The result was a close-up of Joe Dallesandro's crotch in jeans. This image defined the Rolling Stones' sizzling sex appeal and willingness to break boundaries.

Mick Jagger and Andy Warhol continued their artistic collaboration, and four years later, in 1975, Warhol released a portfolio of 10 silkscreens based on personal photos Warhol had taken of his friend. The Mick Jagger images remain one of Warhol's most famous silkscreen series of celebrities. As on the cover of 'Sticky Fingers', the Mick Jagger suite symbolises the unforgettable personalities of two of the most famous and prolific artists of all time.