Jean-Michel Basquiat and Madonna photographed by Stephen Torton at his loft on Crosby Street, September 1982.

Stephen Torton:

One Day On Crosby Street …

One fine day early in my year of employment as Jean Michel Basquiat’s assistant; Madonna came by, popped a cassette of Everybody in the tape player and then hung out with us while we worked feverishly building and painting. I quickly shot off an entire roll of black and white film on my Leica.

The loft was a swirling, sumptuous carpet ride of activity and in these few moments time stopped… Love was in the air. This was not the eroticism of the Madonna of later years nor was it Basquiat; the ladykiller. This was the tender, childlike love of two kindred spirits wired for success who were grateful and soothed by the comfort of each other’s arms. The kinship of familiarity, a safe harbor full of joy.

Skater Girl, 1970s

untitled 1960

“If he dies, he dies”

Illustration by Takrezz

A super sweet pinup of Natalie Wood

Kelly Lebrock photographed by Denis Piel in the 80s

Coltrane + Elvin, Roy DeCarava, 1960

Lana Del Rey by Neil Krug

San Francisco, 1961. Miles Davis

Kathleen Turner for Body Heat directed by Lawrence Kasdan, 1981