In 1975, art dealer Luciano Anselmino commissioned Warhol to produce a series of drag queens. Under Warhol’s instruction, Bob Colacello went to The Gilded Grape, a club frequented by trans people and drag performers of colour, to recruit several willing participants. These individuals were offered $50 an hour in exchange for their portrait. Never introduced to Warhol by name, the sitters arrived at the Factory and had their polaroid taken. The series were exhibited at Max Protect gallery in December 1975 along with ‘Gerald Ford Political Portraits, Flowers and other Warhol favourites.
The sitters here included: Alphanso Panell, Broadway, Wilhelmina Ross, Monique, Marsha P. Johnson, Iris, Easha McCleary, and Vicki Peters.
