Kim Kardashian In Body Paint, Nicki Minaj as a Renaissance Woman, George Clooney Covered with Polka Dots: See the Best of W‘s Art Issues Past
Every year, usually around the imbroglio that is Art Basel Miami Beach, W publishes its annual Art Issue. And we put our cover stars through the ringer devised by their artist collaborators: George Clooney was covered in polka dots and wore a custom polka-dotted suit by Instagram sensation Yayoi Kusama; Margot Robbie dunked herself in a water tank for the video artist Bill Viola; Nicki Minaj was portrayed as an 18th-century courtesan by the Italian provocateur Francesco Vezzoli; Drake subjected himself to the whims of five artists, including KAWS; and, famously, Kim Kardashian posed nude in silver body paint at the hands of the text-art icon Barbara Kruger. (This year, in case you forgot, we had the queen Mary J. Blige photographed by the pioneering Carrie Mae Weems.) Here, a look at all the famous faces who’ve starred in W art issues past.
1
Jessica Chastain as portrayed by George Condo and photographed by Max Vadukul for W Magazine’s Art Issue, January 2013.
2
Francesco Vezzoli reimagines Nicki Minaj as an 18th century courtesan in a series of portraits for W’s Art Issue, November 2011.
3
Pharell as portrayed by the artist Mr. for W’s Art Issue, June 2014.
4
Kim Kardashian as portrayed by Barbra Kruger and shot by Mark Seliger for W’s Art Issue, November 2010.
5
The first new work that the Chinese artist Ai Weiwei made after being released from government custody in China for W’s Art Issue, November 2011.
6
Drake as portrayed by KAWS and photographed by Caitlin Cronenberg for W’s Art Issue, November 2015.
7
Artist Bill Viola shoots actress Margot Robbie submerged in water for W’s Art Issue, January 2015.
8
George Clooney by Yayoi Kusama and photographed by Emma Summerton for W’s December/January 2013 Art Issue.
9
Raquel Zimmermann at the MOCA Los Angeles. Photo by Willy Vandeperre, Styled by Edward Enniful for W Magazine June 2014.
10
The first new work that the Chinese artist Ai Weiwei made after being released from government custody in China for W’s Art Issue, November 2011.
11
Tara Subkoff photographed by Marilyn Minter for W’s November 2015 Art Issue.
