Last portrait of Jeffrey Epstein goes on exhibition as part of a very controversial showcase in New York; in the image the late paedophile’s arrogant smugness is clearly exposed
Featured first in Artnet News on Monday, it can be revealed that the “likely final portrait” of Jeffrey Epstein, shot just months before his death in 2019 by Andres Serrano, has gone on display in New York.
Forming part of a highly controversial exhibition titled Infamous that also includes racist memorabilia and items related to Donald Trump, of the shot the photographer commented:
“After he died, I decided I had to put Jeffrey Epstein’s portrait in Infamous because there’s no one more infamous than Jeffrey.”
Going further and describing why he “agreed to shoot [the]photograph in exchange for a 16th century statue of the Madonna,” Serrano added:
“I have no doubt that Jeffrey Epstein was a monster and pedophile. I would have dealt with the devil himself for that Madonna. And apparently, I did.”
Describing how they came together, Artnet’s Sarah Cascone commented:
“Serrano, who collects Medieval and Renaissance art, had tried to purchase the sculpture and a matching statue of St. John from an antique shop in 1995 – only to learn that a man called Epstein had beaten him to the punch, splitting up the pair.”
“Epstein soon learned that he owned a work of art Serrano coveted, and they met several times over the years to discuss it. (Serrano clarified these were business meetings attended by the artist’s wife, Irina Movmyga, and never involved dinner, parties, or Epstein’s infamous private jet or island).”
“Fueled by an overwhelming desire to reunite the two religious statues, Serrano agreed in 2018 to a trade: Epstein’s portrait for the Madonna. The financier followed up – improbably, three months before his arrest in July 2019 and four months before his death – to secure his half of the deal.”
‘Infamous’ by Andres Serrano is on show until 14th March 2021 at Fotografiska New York, 281 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10010.
Pictured top: The most definitely avant-garde photographer Andres Serrano (right) and his most definitely arrogant and evil paedophile monster subject.
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