Billy Boy and Christopher Makos

c. 1979

“Portraits of the 70s” at the Whitney

The Whitney Museum mounted Andy Warhol: Portraits of the 70s, the decade's commissioned portraits, among them Yves Saint Laurent, Gianni Agnelli, David Hockney, Roy Lichtenstein and Mick Jagger. Reviews were mixed: the New York Times critic Hilton Kramer wrote that Warhol's art belonged less to the history of painting than to the history of publicity.

early 1980s

The end of his relationship with Jed Johnson

After the end of his relationship with Johnson, his only sustained romantic partnership, Warhol went through depression and significant weight loss. He turned to modelling, signing with the Zoli Agency in 1981 and later being represented by Ford Models.

September 1985

The show with Basquiat and “Reigning Queens”

In September 1985 the joint Warhol–Basquiat exhibition Paintings opened at the Tony Shafrazi Gallery to negative reviews. That same month, despite his apprehension, his silkscreen series Reigning Queens was shown at the Leo Castelli Gallery.

January 1987

“Last Supper” in Milan

In January 1987 Warhol travelled to Milan for the opening of the exhibition of his Last Supper series (1986) at the Palazzo delle Stelline.

20 – 21 February 1987

Gallbladder surgery on the eve of his death

By February 1987 Warhol, dehydrated and unable to eat, was in excruciating pain; he was admitted to a New York hospital on 20 February and operated on on the 21st — the surgeon found his gallbladder “on the verge of perforating”. He died early on 22 February of sudden cardiac arrhythmia.

22 February 1987

Died