Dutch 1954

Paul Blanca, alias Paul Vlaswinkel is an art photographer. He creates portraits which explore strong emotions. In the 1980s Blanca received recognition for his violent self-portraits inspired by the works of Andres Serrano and Robert Mapplethorpe.

Mapplethorpe mentored Blanca, introducing him to New York high society,including artists such as Grace Jones, Jasper Johns, Willem de Kooning and Keith Haring. Mapplethorpe said of Blanca, “Paul Blanca is my only competitor.”.

Blanca’s self-portraits reveal strong emotions and violence expressed through fear, aggression, pain, sadness and sexuality. However, a more sensitive side is shown in the nudes, “Mother and Son” and “Father and Son”.

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