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Arts & Literature

Robert Mapplethorpe

1946–1989Floral Park, NYItalian American descendantHistoric
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Public-domain portraits are added as archival images are indexed.

Why Included

Groundbreaking and controversial photographer

Biography

Groundbreaking and controversial photographer; still lifes, portraits, and erotic imagery; died of AIDS at 42. Transformed photography into fine art; Mapplethorpe Foundation funded AIDS research; MOMA retrospective

Notable For

  • Groundbreaking and controversial photographer
  • still lifes, portraits, and erotic imagery
  • died of AIDS at 42

Honors & Recognition

  • Transformed photography into fine art
  • Mapplethorpe Foundation funded AIDS research
  • MOMA retrospective

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Robert Mapplethorpe Italian?

Yes — Robert Mapplethorpe is of Italian heritage with roots in Italian. Groundbreaking and controversial photographer

Explore the wider history of Italian Americans.

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Quick Facts

Field
Arts & Literature
Specialty
Photography
Years
1946–1989
Birth Place
Floral Park, NY
Origin
Italian American descendant
Regional Ancestry
Italian
Publication Status
Published
Ancestry Verification
Needs Review

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