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Kate Simon and Niamh White

Photographing William S. Burroughs

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
  • William with Cane at The Bunker
    Kate Simon describes the artworks that surrounded William S. Burroughs in the Bunker
  • 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
  • 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
  • William Burroughs with Cat
    Kate Simon reveals the story behind this 1994 photograph capturing William S. Burroughs with John Giorno's cat
  • Shot on William’s 70th Birthday
    Kate Simon recalls the 'unending series of parties' marking the iconic writer's 70th birthday celebrations
  • In Front of Carl Apfelschnitt Drawing
    Kate Simon speaks about her friendship with abstract artist Carl Apfelschnitt
  • Wordvirus Cover
    Kate Simon considers the various portrayals of Burroughs' personality compared to the man she knew
  • 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
  • William with Gun on his Front Porch
    Kate Simon recalls shooting William Burroughs on the porch at his home in Kansas
  • 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
  • William by the Barn
    Kate Simon describes the role William Burroughs had in constructing his own image
  • William on the Porch, Lawrence, Kansas
    Kate Simon discusses Burroughs' brand-like awareness of his own identity
  • 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
  • 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

About

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, William S. Burroughs Portraits 1975 - 1995, of these widely unseen shots. In this series of interviews, Simon explains each image to SHOWstudio Shop's associate director Niamh White and sheds some light on her relationship with her notorious subject

Image copyright Kate Simon

Credits / Contributors

  • Kate Simon Kate Simon
    Photographer
  • Niamh White Niamh White
    Curator

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