William N. Copley's X-Rated Series Exhibition at Galerie Max Hetzler in Berlin

Galerie Max Hetzler in Berlin is presenting a solo exhibition titled 'X-Rated (1972–1974)' featuring paintings and works on paper by American artist William N. Copley. The show, which runs through April 22, 2026, marks the fourth time the gallery has displayed Copley's work. The exhibition focuses on his 'X-Rated' series created between 1972 and 1975, which explores erotic themes through imagery sourced from adult magazines. Copley, who initially pursued writing before turning to art, was influenced by Surrealist artists like Man Ray, Max Ernst, and Marcel Duchamp after co-founding a gallery in Beverly Hills in the late 1940s. His artistic approach combines narrative strategies with bold outlines and a self-taught figurative style, blending elements of comics and Pop art. The 'X-Rated' works, first shown in 1974 at the New York Cultural Center, aim to transcend pornography into what Copley described as 'the area of joy.' During the 1970s, when hardcore pornography was illegal in the U.S., Copley used adult magazines as inspiration for paintings that examine eroticism, sexual politics, and pleasure. The exhibition includes preparatory drawings alongside finished paintings, revealing his creative process. Critics have noted connections between Copley's work and that of Henri Matisse, particularly in his use of vibrant backgrounds and contorted figures. The series challenges conservative norms by directly depicting sexual acts with humor and a pop cultural sensibility, using titles borrowed from Hollywood films. Despite potential controversy, the original 1974 exhibition received positive reviews, with critic Peter Schjeldahl praising it as a 'uniformly gorgeous exhibition.' Copley's 'X-Rated' series remains relevant today for its subversive exploration of art and eroticism.