Billy Name's enigmatic images of Warhol's Silver Factory and The Velvet Underground

Date
28 September 2015

Andy Warhol and Lou Reed are undoubtedly some of the most fascinating, enigmatic characters of the 20th Century. Even the ubiquity of a Marilyn face print, or that 1997 Perfect Day charity cover can’t change that. So when we hear about another chance to glimpse inside the famous Factory walls, we’re still rather excited – especially when that glimpse arrives through the images of Billy Name. Billy was Warhol’s brief lover, long-term friend and celebrated archivist, documenting the glamourous and surreal goings on of the Silver Factory, which he was commissioned to decorate by the artist in 1964. This decor took the form of coating the East 47th Street space almost entirely in silver foil or silver spray paint – hence its name – and creating a futuristic-looking playground for talents like The Velvet Underground and Edie Sedgwick. Billy’s images have been gathered for a new London exhibition opening this week, and the Silver Age series is documentary photography in its finest form: at times playful and spontaneous, at others staged, but always viscerally beautiful.

Billy Name: The Silver Age is on show at Serena Morton II Gallery in London from 30 September – 23 October. The book is published by Reel Art Press"www.reelartpress.com

Above

Billy Name: Andy Warhol on Payphone at World’s Fair, 1964
© Billy Name / Reel Art Press

Above
Left

Billy Name: Andy Warhol with Brillo and Ruby the Cat, 1964
© Billy Name / Reel Art Press

Right

Billy Name: Andy Warhol with Giant Baby Ruth Bars, 1966
© Billy Name / Reel Art Press

Above

Billy Name: Andy Warhol with Giant Baby Ruth Bars, 1966
© Billy Name / Reel Art Press

Above

Billy Name: Nico, 1967
© Billy Name / Reel Art Press

Above

Billy Name: Nico, Chelsea Girl, 1967
© Billy Name / Reel Art Press

Above

Billy Name: Regency Cinema, Chelsea Girls Marquee, 1966
© Billy Name / Reel Art Press

Above

Billy Name: The Velvet Underground, 1967
© Billy Name / Reel Art Press

Above

Billy Name: Susan Bottomley, International Velvet, 1966
© Billy Name / Reel Art Press

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About the Author

Emily Gosling

Emily joined It’s Nice That as Online Editor in the summer of 2014 after four years at Design Week. She is particularly interested in graphic design, branding and music. After working It's Nice That as both Online Editor and Deputy Editor, Emily left the company in 2016.

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