Andres Serrano facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Andres Serrano
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Serrano in 2023
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| Born | August 15, 1950 New York City, U.S.
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| Education | Brooklyn Museum Art School |
| Known for | Photography |
| Spouse(s) | Julie Ault (m. 1980, div. 2005) Irina Movmyga (current) |
Andres Serrano (born August 15, 1950) is an American photographer and artist known for his thought-provoking and often controversial work. Some of his art includes photographs of objects submerged in different liquids. He also created the album cover art for the heavy metal band Metallica's albums Load and Reload.
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Early Life and Education
Andres Serrano was born in New York City on August 15, 1950. His family background is from Honduras and Cuba. He was raised in a religious Roman Catholic family, and he has said that he is a Christian.
From 1967 to 1969, he studied at the Brooklyn Museum Art School. However, he is mostly considered a self-taught photographer, meaning he learned many of his skills on his own. In 1980, he married artist Julie Ault. They later divorced, and he is now married to Irina Movmyga.
Career in Photography
Serrano began his career working as an assistant art director for an advertising company. He created his first artworks in 1983. His work was first shown in New York City by photographer Alex Harsley.
Serrano's photographs have been displayed in galleries and museums all over the world. This includes the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City and the Barbican Arts Centre in London.
Famous and Controversial Art
Serrano is known for creating art that makes people think and sometimes causes strong reactions. He often photographs objects in unusual ways, sometimes using unconventional materials in his work.
One of his most famous pieces is a 1987 photograph of a small plastic crucifix submerged in a glass of yellow liquid, which the artist said was his own urine. This work caused a lot of debate when it was first shown. Some people, like U.S. Senators Jesse Helms and Alphonse D'Amato, were very critical of it. Others defended Serrano's right to create his art, a principle known as artistic freedom.
Serrano often creates very large photographs, around 20 by 30 inches. He has photographed a wide variety of subjects, including portraits of members of the Klan, homeless people in the New York City Subway, and close-up images of firearms.
Working with the Band Metallica
Serrano's art reached a wider audience when he worked with the famous heavy metal band Metallica.
- His artwork Blood and ... III was used as the cover for Metallica's 1996 album Load.
- Another piece, ... and Blood, was used for their 1997 album Reload.
The band's guitarist, Kirk Hammett, discovered Serrano's work in an art book and thought it would be a good fit for their albums. Serrano was happy to work with the band.
Later Projects
In his later career, Serrano has continued to explore different subjects and ideas through his photography.
Objects of Desire
In the early 1990s, Serrano created a series called Objects of Desire. This series featured close-up photographs of different firearms. One of these photos was even used on the cover of a catalog for Anthology Film Archives, a famous film museum.
Residents of New York
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In 2013, Serrano started a project called Sign of the Times. He collected about 200 signs from homeless people in New York City, often paying them $20 for each sign. He said the project was a way to show the experiences of people living on the streets.
This led to a larger project in 2014 called Residents of New York. He took portraits of over 85 homeless individuals. The powerful photos were displayed in public spaces, including a subway station and on phone booths around the city. The goal was to bring attention to the lives of homeless people in a respectful way.
See also
- Banksy
- Cinema of Transgression
- Shock art
- Transgressive art
