William John Kennedy at the National Portrait Gallery
A DEFINING MOMENT: ANDY WARHOL WITH THE MARILYN ACETATE
There are moments in the life of a collection that come to redefine its place within the cultural landscape. The presentation of William John Kennedy’s photograph of Andy Warhol with the Marilyn acetate at the National Portrait Gallery marks one such moment.
Its inclusion within Marilyn: A Portrait—a major summer exhibition marking the centenary of legendary Hollywood idol Marilyn Monroe—represents a profound institutional acknowledgement.
Proximity to Creation
Captured in New York during the early 1960s, Kennedy’s photograph reveals Warhol in The Factory, holding the acetate that would give rise to his Marilyn works—iconic images that have come to embody the Pop Art era.
The significance of the photograph lies not only in its subject, but also in its proximity to creation. It is not a portrait of a finished idea, but one of formation. Suspended between concept and execution, the Marilyn acetate speaks to the immediacy of Warhol’s practice and the mechanics behind one of the most recognisable bodies of work in 20th Century art, including the painting of the legendary actress that would later achieve $195 million at auction.
This moment carries deeper historical resonance. In 1967, works connected to Warhol’s Marilyn imagery were presented at the Sidney Janis Gallery, where they were shown alongside the work of Richard Avedon. This exhibition included Kennedy’s photograph of Andy Warhol with the Marilyn acetate, which decades later returns to this lineage. Once again, the work is positioned within a conversation of images that have come to define Marilyn Monroe’s enduring presence in visual culture.
The Rediscovered Archive
William John Kennedy’s lost archive was rediscovered only a few years ago, when the photographer found a set of forgotten negatives and transparencies he had taken in the early 1960s. These images document the work and workplaces of the leading lights of the Pop movement in the nascent stages of their careers—including Pop Art giants Andy Warhol and Robert Indiana. Portals to a time when they were on the cusp of emergence, the images transport us back to an era of promise and transformation in American culture.
While Kennedy’s introduction into the pop art sphere initially came via his friendship with Robert Indiana, the portraits he shot of Andy Warhol while ensconced in the world of The Factory are some of his most important works—they are surprisingly intimate photographs of the artist who famously embraced image, at the very same time as he resisted intimacy.
One Image on Display—The Rest at the Residence
It is important to note that only this single, historic image is featured in the National Portrait Gallery’s exhibition. Speaking powerfully to its enduring cultural and art historical significance, an edition of this artwork is also held within the permanent archive of The Andy Warhol Museum, Pittsburgh.
For The Warhol Kennedy Residence, this presentation is both a milestone and a continuation. It affirms the enduring relevance of the collection, while opening it to new audiences and contexts. It is not only a recognition of William John Kennedy’s eye, but of the rare and fleeting moments he captured.
To experience the true depth, scale, and context of William John Kennedy’s career, audiences must look beyond the museum walls. Until recently, many of these rare photographs had been shown only at private events, as well as in a presentation at Photo London in September 2021. The Warhol Kennedy Residence remains the only place where the collection can be experienced in its entirety.
The Full Collection can be viewed by appointment at The Warhol Kennedy Residence, London.
Marilyn: A Portrait exhibits at The National Portrait Gallery, London, from 4 June until 6 September 2026.
Image Credit Courtesy of The Warhol Kennedy Residence. William John Kennedy, Andy Warhol with the Marilyn Acetate (1964), Chromogenic Print. Supplementary Artworks (L-R): William John Kennedy, Warhol Flowers I (1964), Chromogenic Print. William John Kennedy, Warhol Flowers II (1964), Chromogenic Print.
The power of this image lies entirely in its proximity to creation. This isn’t a slick, retrospective homage to a finished idea; it is a raw, intimate glimpse of a myth in mid-formation. Suspended between concept and execution, Kennedy caught Warhol holding the literal blueprint of 20th-century art—the very image that would later inspire the painting that shattered auction records at $195 million.
The Intimacy Paradox: Warhol famously built a career on resisting intimacy and embracing the superficiality of commercial images. Yet, Kennedy’s lens pierced that armor, capturing a surprisingly tender, focused relationship between the artist and his muse’s ghost.
From a Forgotten Box to Fine Art Royalty
The journey of this photograph is as cinematic as its subject. For decades, Kennedy’s negatives lay forgotten—a “lost archive” rediscovered only a few years ago when the photographer uncovered a stash of forgotten negatives and transparencies from the early ’60s.
Originally introduced to the Pop Art inner circle through his friendship with Robert Indiana, Kennedy quietly documented the movement’s titans right on the cusp of their meteoric rise.
Now, the art world is making up for lost time:
- The Archive: An edition of Andy Warhol with the Marilyn Acetate is permanently held in The Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh.
- The Heritage: This presentation echoes a legendary 1967 show at the Sidney Janis Gallery, where Kennedy’s work was dialogue-matched with the iconic photography of Richard Avedon.
- The Return: Decades later, the photograph returns to this prestigious lineage, contextualizing Marilyn Monroe’s enduring grip on visual culture.
Exhibition Details
For The Warhol Kennedy Residence (the London-based custodians of Kennedy’s estate), this institutional nod is the ultimate validation of a master eye. While the National Portrait Gallery offers a focused look at this historic Marilyn crossover, the full, breathless scale of Kennedy’s rediscovered archive remains an exclusive experience.
- Marilyn: A Portrait runs at The National Portrait Gallery, London, from 4 June until 6 September 2026.
- The Full Collection can be viewed by private appointment at The Warhol Kennedy Residence, London.
