Lou Reed: Caught Between the Twisted Stars

On Thursday, June 9, the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts (NYPLA) will showcase a new exhibit focused on the life and work of a well-known music icon: Lou Reed. The exhibit, Lou Reed: Caught Between the Twisted Stars, is the first large-scale exhibition from Reed’s archive, whose profound influence—musically, visually, and culturally—still affects a range of artists and writers today.

The exhibit’s title is taken from a lyric from "Romeo Had Juliette" from Reed's solo album, New York, and will present previously unseen and unheard work from Reed, who was not only a songwriter and musician, but was a talented performer, poet, photographer, and tai chi practitioner. The story is told through the voices, images, and music of Reed's music projects; through his performances and theatre works; the articles, books, and poems that he authored; his own photography; and his personal tai chi studies. The show will pay tribute to the many friends and collaborators whom he influenced and who, in turn, shaped his own music, including Andy Warhol, John Cale, Metallica, Allen Ginsberg, former Czech Republic president Václav Havel, and many more. Visitors will also have the opportunity to experience the full range of Reed’s technologically ambitious discography in the Lou Reed listening Room.

The exhibit will be open through Saturday, March 4, 2023 in the Shelby Cullom Davis Museum at 40 Lincoln Center Plaza (entrance at 111 Amsterdam between 64th and 65th). Visit NYPLA’s website for hours. Click here to learn more about the exhibit.

There will also be an event on Tuesday, June 7 before the exhibit opens paying tribute to Lou Reed as well. Lou Reed Drones will take place from 12:00pm to 6:00pm featuring a performance installation of Lou Reed’s guitars in feedback mode. This imitated some of his work, as Lou Reed incorporated drones into The Velvet Underground songs. This event will take place outdoors on the Hearst Plaza, located between the Metropolitan Opera and the Lincoln Center Theater. Click here for event details and to register.

Photo credit: Luciano Viti / Getty via The New Yorker