Ladies and Gentlemen 133 by Andy Warhol is one of the best-known screenprints from the Ladies and Gentlemen portfolio. It portrays the legendary activist and performer Marsha P. Johnson with an unmistakable, radiant smile. Warhol builds the portrait from black-and-white screenprinting overlaid with translucent maroon, pastel pink, sky blue, and golden yellow. Johnson’s bright blond wig, dangling earrings, and expressive gesture command the composition, while the layered blocks of color create a vibrant sense of movement and personality. As a result, Ladies and Gentlemen 133 captures both glamour and joy with remarkable immediacy.
Ladies and Gentlemen 133 and Marsha P. Johnson
Ladies and Gentlemen 133 depicts Marsha P. Johnson, one of the most influential figures in the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement. Johnson played a prominent role in the Stonewall Uprising of 1969, an event that helped galvanize the gay liberation movement in the United States and beyond. Although the portfolio predates Johnson’s widespread historical recognition, Warhol instinctively captured one of its most important personalities.
The series itself originated with Italian art dealer Luciano Anselmino, who had previously commissioned Warhol’s Man Ray portfolio. Rather than photographing established celebrities, Warhol turned his attention to New York’s drag community. He enlisted Bob Colacello and Ronnie Cutrone to recruit sitters from the Gilded Grape nightclub, where they invited performers to the Factory for Polaroid sessions. Interestingly, Warhol never formally introduced himself to many of the participants.
Portraiture, Identity, and Recognition
Warhol transformed Johnson’s Polaroid into a portrait that balances spontaneity with careful composition. The monochrome screenprint preserves her facial expression, while translucent color fields energize the image without hiding it. Meanwhile, the broad smile, raised hand, and direct engagement with the viewer give Ladies and Gentlemen 133 an openness rarely found elsewhere in the portfolio.
Although the project originally presented its sitters anonymously, later research identified many participants. Alongside Johnson, the series includes Alphanso Panell, Michele Long, Wilhelmina Ross, and Iris. Even so, several models remain unidentified, reflecting both the marginalization of the community and the project’s original emphasis on image over biography.
Ladies and Gentlemen 133 by Andy Warhol as Part of His Larger Body of Work
Warhol portrayed the sitters in Ladies and Gentlemen with the same visual authority he gave celebrated figures such as Marilyn Monroe and Liz Taylor. In doing so, he blurred the distinction between celebrity and anonymity, suggesting that charisma and presence deserved recognition regardless of social status.
Today, Ladies and Gentlemen 133 has become one of the defining images of the portfolio because of Marsha P. Johnson’s enduring legacy. The portrait stands at the intersection of Pop Art, portraiture, and LGBTQ+ history, making it one of Warhol’s most culturally resonant works of the 1970s.
Photo Credit: Ronnie Cutrone (American, 1948–2013), Andy Warhol Photographing a Drag Queen (Marsha P. Johnson), 1975. Photograph. Image courtesy of Skarstedt Gallery.
