Andy Warhol: Love, Sex, Desire Drawings

Explore one of the most intimate chapters of Andy Warhol’s early career with Andy Warhol: Love, Sex, and Desire — Drawings 1950–1962, a hardcover art book published by Taschen. Created years before Warhol became the defining figure of Pop Art, these rarely seen drawings reveal an artist captivated by beauty, vulnerability, intimacy, and the expressive power of line.

Edited by Michael Dayton Hermann of The Andy Warhol Foundation, the volume gathers more than 300 drawings alongside essays by Warhol biographer Blake Gopnik and writer Drew Zeiba, plus poetry by James Baldwin, Thom Gunn, Harold Norse, Essex Hemphill, and Allen Ginsberg. Originally envisioned as a publication during Warhol’s lifetime, it finally brings that project to life.

More than an art book, this edition is a cultural document — a record of Warhol’s formative years and his lasting influence on modern art, illustration, and queer art history. Please note: this volume contains artistic nude drawings and mature subject matter intended for adult readers.

Key Features

• Publisher: Taschen
• Editor: Michael Dayton Hermann, with essays by Blake Gopnik and Drew Zeiba
• Format: Hardcover, 392 pages, 11.0 x 13.3 in., approx. 7 lbs.
• Content: More than 300 rarely published drawings made between 1950 and 1962, plus poetry by Baldwin, Gunn, Norse, Hemphill and Ginsberg
• Style: Line drawing, pre-Pop illustration, queer art history
• Best For: Contemporary art libraries, coffee table styling, collectors, Warhol enthusiasts

Styling Suggestions

A strong counterweight to a room full of neutrals. Lay it on a coffee table with the cover facing up, or shelve it spine-out alongside other contemporary art monographs. Its scale and subject make it a natural conversation piece in a study, gallery wall corner, or bar area.

The Perfect Gift

A thoughtful gift for art collectors, illustrators, designers, and anyone drawn to Warhol beyond the soup cans. Ideal for birthdays, housewarmings, gallery openings, and holiday gifting for the art-obsessed.

Frequently Asked Questions

What period do the drawings cover?
The work spans 1950 to 1962 — Warhol’s years as a commercial illustrator in New York, before the Factory and before Pop Art made him famous.

Have these drawings been published before?
Most have not. More than 300 are rarely seen, drawn from the archives of The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts.

Is this book appropriate for all audiences?
No. It contains artistic nude drawings of the male form and mature subject matter, and is intended for adult readers.

What size is this book?
A hardcover measuring 11.0 x 13.3 inches and weighing about seven pounds. Multilingual edition in English, French, and German. ISBN 978-3-8365-7447-1.

Why Shop Mood by DMJ

Mood by DMJ is Lafayette, Louisiana’s destination for elevated home, art, and lifestyle objects. Our curated Taschen library is selected for its design integrity, craftsmanship, and timeless appeal. Shop in-store or online with confidence.

Use collapsible tabs for more detailed information that will help customers make a purchasing decision.

Ex: Shipping and return policies, size guides, and other common questions.