Premium Content:

On This Gay Day | Robert Mapplethorpe died in 1989

Mapplethorpe created large scale photographic works, predominately in black and white, that featured nudes, still life and self portraits. His most controversial works were images focusing on the underground BDSM culture.

The photographers work spurred discussions about public funding of art works and censorship. His work was noted for its homoeroticism.

- Advertisement -

Mapplethorpe lived with punk singer Patti Smith for a decade between the 1960s and 1970s before he realised he was gay.

They continued to work together throughout his life. In the late 1970s he met art curator Sam Wagstaff who would become his mentor, lover and lifetime companion. Wagstaff gave Mapplethorpe the camera which got him interested in photography.

Mapplethorpe died of an AIDS related illness at just 42 years of age. Wagstaff died two years earlier also as a result of acquiring pneumonia arising from HIV.

His life was dramatised in the 2018 film Mapplethorpe, where Doctor Who and The Crown star Matt Smith portrayed the photographer.

OIP Staff, This post was first published in 2021 and has been subsequently updated. 

Latest

Get ready for The Big Backyard Quiz!

It's a laugh filled dive into random facts on Australian history from a very unique perspective.

Support Team Perth by heading to an advance screening of ‘Wicked: For Good’

Be among the first to see the second part of the epic musical set in the land of Oz.

Madonna tops the iTunes chart with ‘Gone, Gone, Gone’

The track is from her long delayed Veronica Electronica record.

On This Gay Day | In 1982 France stops listing homosexuality as a disorder

At the same time authorities equalised the age of consent.

Newsletter

Don't miss

Get ready for The Big Backyard Quiz!

It's a laugh filled dive into random facts on Australian history from a very unique perspective.

Support Team Perth by heading to an advance screening of ‘Wicked: For Good’

Be among the first to see the second part of the epic musical set in the land of Oz.

Madonna tops the iTunes chart with ‘Gone, Gone, Gone’

The track is from her long delayed Veronica Electronica record.

On This Gay Day | In 1982 France stops listing homosexuality as a disorder

At the same time authorities equalised the age of consent.

‘Brigerton’ star Luke Newton to play famous gay fashion designer

He's signed up to star in a new play abut the life of Lee Alexander McQueen.

Get ready for The Big Backyard Quiz!

It's a laugh filled dive into random facts on Australian history from a very unique perspective.

Support Team Perth by heading to an advance screening of ‘Wicked: For Good’

Be among the first to see the second part of the epic musical set in the land of Oz.

Madonna tops the iTunes chart with ‘Gone, Gone, Gone’

The track is from her long delayed Veronica Electronica record.