Christopher Makos

CHRISTOPHER MAKOS (Lowell, Massachusetts, U.S., 1948).
“Susan Bartsch.”
Silver gelatin print. Printed in the late 1980s.
Stamped on the back.
Measurements: 50 x 40.5 cm

Susan Bartsch is a renowned cultural promoter, a nightlife icon, and a key figure in New York’s underground scene since the late 1970s. Born in England and based in New York, she became famous for organizing extravagant parties and events that blended fashion, art, music, and performance, becoming a central figure in club culture and the LGBTQ+ community. During the 1980s and 1990s, her parties at clubs such as Copacabana, The Tunnel, and Palladium brought together designers, artists, models, performers, and celebrities, standing out for their theatrical, avant-garde, and provocative aesthetic. Susan Bartsch also championed the work of young designers and collaborated with influential figures in fashion and contemporary art.

In addition to her impact on nightlife culture, she played an important social and activist role, especially during the AIDS crisis, organizing charity events and fundraising campaigns for research and support for people affected by HIV/AIDS. Over time, she has become a symbol of creativity, freedom of expression, and cultural diversity in New York.

Makos knew how to capture the essence of the subjects he portrayed, the vast majority of whom were prominent figures in the society of the time, such as Truman Capote, Liz Taylor, John Lennon, and Mick Jagger. He generally took the photos in his studio, but he placed the subjects front and center, capturing their essence.

Christopher Makos is remembered, among other things, for introducing Warhol to the world of Polaroid photography. He is a legendary figure in New York. Although born in Massachusetts, he grew up in California and later settled in New York City in the 1960s. He went to Europe—specifically Paris—to study architecture, but his encounter with Man Ray led him to photography. Upon returning to the United States, he settled in New York City’s West Village. He collaborated closely with Andy Warhol, whom he taught how to use his first camera. He also introduced Warhol to the work of Jean-Michel Basquiat and Keith Haring. Warhol described Makos as “the most modern photographer in the United States.” The close friendship between Makos and Warhol and the long trips they took together are chronicled in Makos’s book *Warhol: A Photographic Memoir* (New American Library). Makos’s works are included in the permanent collections of more than 100 museums; they have been the subject of numerous exhibitions in galleries and museums across the United States, Europe, and Japan; and they have appeared in numerous publications worldwide, such as *Interview*, *Rolling Stone*, *House & Garden*, *Connoisseur*, *New York Magazine*, *Esquire*, *Genre*, and *People*. Collectors such as Malcolm Forbes, Pedro Almodóvar, and Gianni Versace own works by him.