In the 1980s, Mapplethorpe spent a considerable amount of time photographing African-American men. It is the third important theme in his work and was undoubtedly prompted by a personal ideal of beauty. In the 1980s, Mapplethorpe’s explicit sadomasochistic photos were the most controversial. Nowadays, these photos prompt the most discussion, and lead to questions about race, sexuality and objectification.
A relationship with Jack Fritscher and the Mineshaft
From 1977 to 1980 Mapplethorpe is the lover of the writer and Drummer editor Jack Fritscher, who introduces him to the Mineshaft, a members-only gay bar and sex club in Manhattan devoted to BDSM.
February 1978
An exhibition at the Lowinsky Gallery in San Francisco
Mapplethorpe tells Warhol he is going to San Francisco for his upcoming show and a month-long “sex vacation”; the Simon Lowinsky Gallery exhibition features mainly photographs of men in heavy leather, S&M scenes and nude bodies, alongside neutral images such as a nude portrait of Smith and close-ups of flowers; the gallery had edited out the more explicit photographs, which were shown the following month at 80 Langton Street.
1980
Meets Milton Moore
At the gay bar Sneakers in the West Village Mapplethorpe meets Milton Moore, who is AWOL from the US Navy, and Moore becomes his muse; in November 1981 they move into a studio apartment at 88 Bleecker Street. Mapplethorpe supports Moore, pays his legal expenses and urges him to study photography at Parsons, but after a difficult visit to Moore’s family in rural Tennessee Moore moves out, leaving Mapplethorpe grief-stricken.
1980
Publishes “Black Males”
His interest in the Black male nude, inspired by the photographs of George Dureau, leads to the publication of “Black Males”; he will go on photographing Black male nudes, often his lovers, throughout the 1980s.
1982
A relationship with Jack Walls
An on-off relationship begins with Jack Walls, a clerk-typist from Chicago who becomes his muse; it is marred by arguments over money and drug use, and in 1984 Mapplethorpe evicts Walls from his Bleecker Street apartment after accusing him of stealing, but later reconciles with him and promotes his career, believing he could become the “new Ben Vereen”.
