List of Sitters for 80s-portraits ( incomplete !)

After moving my studio to NYC from Toronto in the mid 1984,  I took a radical side step to revisit portrait painting.  At that time we were surrounded by The Pictures generation, Neo Geo, New Boys Painting a la Mary Boone, and The East Village scene in NYC. Done in one sitting, I painted small 8″ by 10″ portraits in oil while conversing with my visitors on Centre Street. Sitters included Stephen Andrews, Andy Fabo, AA Bronson, Jeff Koons, Rae Johnson, Tom Dean, Robert Flack, Peggy Gale, Jorge Zontal… ( see the list above).  The majority are my Canadians from Toronto art community who would come often setting up studios in NYC too. We were and are still a family. Sadly many are no longer with us, some having passed away due to AIDS. The portraits have never been shown, yet they predate the practice of the new portrait painting which emerged in the 1990’s with artists such as Elizabeth Peyton. That said, the project that began as a personal secret, and sharing with friends is currently resting chez moi  in Toronto…