‘Male Nude’ by Paul Cadmus, from ‘Paul Cadmus. 49 Drawings’
Book Launch: ‘Paul Cadmus: 49 Drawings’ from Monacelli Press
Hauser & Wirth Publishers and Monacelli Press invite you to the Ursula Bookshop at 18th Street for a book launch celebrating the recent release of ‘Paul Cadmus: 49 Drawings.’
This lavish portfolio of never-before-seen erotic drawings by celebrated twentieth century American artist Paul Cadmus highlights the intimate, everyday part of the artist’s practice, presenting a selection of drawings of his long-time partner, lover, and muse, Jon Anderson.
‘Paul Cadmus: 49 Drawings’ represents a substantial contribution to the study of queer art, and features a thoughtful introduction by Los Angeles-based art collector and dealer Graham Steele, an essay by leading queer-art historian Richard Meyer, and a roundtable discussion with contemporary artists Nash Glynn, Oscar yi Hou, and Doron Langberg, moderated by writer and curator Jarrett Earnest.
The launch will include a toast from Graham Steele, with wine provided by Wolffer Estate, as well as appearances by contributors to the book and the elegant publication will be for sale throughout the event.
This event is free; however, reservations are recommended.
'Paul Cadmus: 49 Drawings', 2024 © Monacelli
About Paul Cadmus
Born in 1904 and dying days before the millennium, Paul Cadmus was a classically trained figurative draughtsman and painter who entered the art scene in the 1930s. Known for his roiling tableaux of urban social gatherings – beatniks, sailors, and prostitutes entangled in the pursuit of pleasure – he created compositionally complex works which often caused controversy due to their satirical edge and (covertly queer) sexual content. One of his best-known early paintings ‘The Fleet’s In!’ was even pulled from an exhibition at the Corcoran Gallery of Art in Washington DC in 1934 at the request of the US Navy - a move which backfired tremendously as it only served to make Cadmus a household name rather than discredit him.
About Monacelli
As a leading publisher of illustrated books for more than twenty-five years, Monacelli has challenged the conventions of publishing to produce provocative, inspiring, and essential titles. Founded in 1994 by Gianfranco Monacelli, the organization has released nearly 600 books on architecture, art, interior design, landscape and gardens, photography, and the applied arts.
Monacelli’s books have been made in collaboration with prominent practitioners and scholars ever since its inaugural title, the groundbreaking S,M,L,XL by Rem Koolhaas and Bruce Mau. In 2015, the applied arts imprint Monacelli Studio was launched, adding elevated books on art instruction, photography technique, and crafts to the publisher’s roster. In 2020, Monacelli joined the Phaidon family of companies.
About the Authors
Graham Steele
is founder of Graham Steele, Inc., a Los Angeles-based private art dealership.
Richard Meyer
is the Robert and Ruth Halperin Professor in Art History at Stanford University.
Jarrett Earnest
is a critic and curator whose books include ‘What it Means to Write About Art: Interviews with Art Critics’ and ‘The Young and Evil: Queer Modernism in New York, 1930–1955.’
UPCOMING EVENTS - New York
Ursula Screenings: ‘Seize the Fire. Films for Thornton Dial’ curated by Greg de Cuir Jr at Metrograph
4 – 12 Jan 2025
Metrograph – 7 Ludlow Street New York, NY 10002