Artist Kate Simon photographed William S. Burroughs over a 20 year period and produced an intimate body of portraiture of the writer. To mark Burroughs' centenary in 2014, SHOWstudio Shop hosted a solo exhibition of these widely unseen shots. In this series of interviews, Simon explains each image and sheds light on her relationship with her notorious subject.
More in this project
- Overview
- William with Patti Smith at his Home
- William with Cane at The Bunker
- The Bunker, NYC
- Shooting Sequence
- William Burroughs with Cat
- Shot on William’s 70th Birthday
- In Front of Carl Apfelschnitt Drawing
- Wordvirus Cover
- Spare Ass Annie
- William with Gun on his Front Porch
- Keith Haring at William’s Home
- William by the Barn
- William on the Porch, Lawrence, Kansas
- William Burroughs, New Mexico
- Life is a Killer. Last Sitting
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William with Patti Smith at his Home
Kate Simon recounts the first photograph she took of William S. Burroughs on Patti Smith's 29th birthday at The Bunker in 1975
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William with Cane at The Bunker
Kate Simon describes the artworks that surrounded William S. Burroughs in the Bunker
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The Bunker, NYC
Kate Simon gives details of the types of camera and lighting equipment she used to shoot William S. Burroughs in The Bunker
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Shooting Sequence
Kate Simon recalls 'Shooting Sequence', a striking image taken in 1979 depicting Burroughs in four poses that demonstrate how to fire a gun
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William Burroughs with Cat
Kate Simon reveals the story behind this 1994 photograph capturing William S. Burroughs with John Giorno's cat
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Shot on William’s 70th Birthday
Kate Simon recalls the 'unending series of parties' marking the iconic writer's 70th birthday celebrations
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In Front of Carl Apfelschnitt Drawing
Kate Simon speaks about her friendship with abstract artist Carl Apfelschnitt
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Wordvirus Cover
Kate Simon considers the various portrayals of Burroughs' personality compared to the man she knew
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Spare Ass Annie
Simon recalls the story behind 'Spare Ass Annie', the image used for Burroughs' spoken word album of the same name that was released in 1993
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William with Gun on his Front Porch
Kate Simon recalls shooting William Burroughs on the porch at his home in Kansas
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Keith Haring at William’s Home
Kate Simon recalls taking this portrait of William S. Burroughs with artist Keith Haring during the River City Reunion festival
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William by the Barn
Kate Simon describes the role William Burroughs had in constructing his own image
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William on the Porch, Lawrence, Kansas
Kate Simon discusses Burroughs' brand-like awareness of his own identity
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William Burroughs, New Mexico
Kate Simon remembers shooting William Burroughs in New Mexico and muses on what could have caused his open and humorous expression
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Life is a Killer. Last Sitting
Simon discusses her final sitting with Burroughs and muses on the implications of working with a subject for such a long period of time