"Ken Moody," 1984, printed later Gelatin silver print Edition 1/10, titled and dated verso, dated again on the Estate of Robert Mapplethorpe stamp verso Image: 15" H x 15" W; Sheet: 19.75" H x 15.75" W Provenance: Sean Kelly Gallery, New York, NY Mark Selwyn Fine Art, Beverly Hills, CA The Blake Byrne Collection Exhibitions: Los Angeles, CA, Los Angeles Metropolitan Medical Center, "Human Condition (organized by John Wolf)," October 1 - November 30, 2016 John Wolf Gallery, Los Angeles, CA, "Secret Gay Box," at the Tom of Finland Foundation, October 12 - November 17, 2018 Notes: Few artists have commanded the medium of black and white photography better than Robert Mapplethorpe (1946-1989, American). The subjects of his nude, often homoerotic portraits, ranged from movie stars and musicians to the BDSM subculture scene in New York City. Professional fitness instructor, Ken Moody, was Mapplethorpe's muse from 1983-1985 and was photographed more than any of his other subjects. Their relationship was strictly professional despite Mapplethorpe's reputation for engaging in relations with his subjects beyond the camera. Mapplethorpe did not aspire to be a political activist, but in 1989, political controversy found him through his touring solo exhibition, The Perfect Moment. The imagery was so shocking that it triggered a national debate, from private living rooms to the Congressional floor, as to whether controversial artwork should be publicly funded. One thing that is never in question however is the superior quality and composition of Robert Mapplethorpe's photography.