Frank Rispoli - High Heels

In the 1970s and '80s, Frank Rispoli documented the New Wave and Punk club scenes in Manhattan, capturing the intersection of fashion and sexuality through his photographs of female clubgoers, bar patrons, singers, and band members. His interest in womens shoes stems from his shyness and admiration for Guy Bourdin's work.

Format: Hardback
Length: 128 pages
Publication date: 01 November 2021
Publisher: Circa Press

In the vibrant and dynamic city of Manhattan during the 1970s and 1980s, Frank Rispoli found himself captivated by the allure of the New Wave and Punk club scenes. Recognizing the inherent performance of sexuality and desire in both fashion and club culture, he embarked on a mission to document the intricate interplay between the two. Armed with a camera always at the ready, Rispoli frequented a multitude of clubs in the bustling neighborhoods of Soho, Chelsea, the Lower East Side, and Midtown. From Danceteria to Tier 3, Max's Kansas City, Studio 54, and countless others, he immersed himself in the pulsating energy of these iconic venues.

With an artist's eye and a keen sense of observation, Rispoli approached female clubgoers, bar patrons, singers, and band members, asking permission to photograph their shoes. He embraced the theatrical sets, props, and bathrooms of the clubs, as well as the bustling streets, taxis, sidewalks, and rooftops of the city, as his vibrant backdrops. These photographs would eventually form the foundation of his first book, High Heels.

Rispoli's fascination with womens shoes stems from a unique perspective. As a teenager, he struggled with eye contact and found solace in focusing on their feet. His admiration for the work of Guy Bourdin, renowned for his advertising photography of the period, further fueled his artistic journey. In his photographs, Rispoli sought to capture not only the beauty and style of womens shoes but also the essence of fun, freedom, and performance found in other outsider communities and events.

One such event was Wigstock, a legendary festival celebrating alternative culture and gender expression. Rispoli's images captured the vibrant spirit of the event, showcasing the colorful costumes, wild hairstyles, and unapologetic self-expression of the participants. Similarly, he documented the burgeoning art scene in Bushwick, Brooklyn, where artists and musicians were pushing boundaries and creating a new wave of creativity.

Through his photographs, Rispoli not only preserved a slice of New York City's cultural history but also shed light on the diverse and vibrant communities that thrived in the city's shadows. His work serves as a testament to the power of art to capture the essence of human experience and to celebrate the beauty and diversity of the world around us.

Weight: 858g
Dimension: 208 x 261 x 22 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781911422303