Mapplethorpe: Look at the Pictures

The story

Nude men in rubber suits, close-ups of erections, objects shoved in the most intimate of places—these are photographs taken by Robert Mapplethorpe, known by many as the most controversial photographer of the twentieth century. Openly gay, Mapplethorpe took images of male sex, nudity, and fetish to extremes that resulted in his work still being labelled by some as pornography masquerading as art. But less talked about are the more serene, yet striking portraits of flowers, sculptures, and perfectly framed human forms that are equally pioneering and powerful.

Cast & crew

Robert MapplethorpeSelf (archive footage)

Fran LebowitzSelf

Debbie HarrySelf

Brooke ShieldsSelf

Carolina Herrera

Carolina HerreraSelf

Paul Martineau

Paul MartineauSelf

Bob ColacelloSelf

Patti SmithSelf (voice) (uncredited)