Museum of the American Indian

The Museum of the American Indian appears in Andy Warhol’s diary as the setting for a June 4, 1986, exhibition opening. His account preserves a brief but vivid picture of the occasion: an uptown journey after a business dispute, a courtyard among small buildings, and a packed reception where Crazy Matty greeted him with wine.

The June 1986 Opening

On June 4, Andy Warhol was due at his opening at the Museum of the American Indian. He traveled there with Kent Klineman, riding up Broadway to 155th Street after a tense conversation at the office. The diary does not identify the exhibition’s title or describe its contents, but records that the show was well received and packed.

Setting and Reception

Warhol remembered the museum as a courtyard with small buildings, calling the setting really nice. Crazy Matty was there to greet him, drinking wine. The compact description conveys the opening through its physical arrangement and reception rather than through details about the works on view.

Business Dispute in the Background

The trip followed a disagreement with Kent Klineman. Klineman disliked the Annie Oakley work, although Warhol said Klineman had directed him to make it that way. They also discussed permission for a John Wayne-related project: Klineman said Patrick Wayne would grant permission in exchange for a painting to donate to charity, and claimed Fred Hughes had agreed to the arrangement. Warhol doubted that Fred Hughes had agreed and insisted that the painting should be paid for by Klineman if he wanted to donate one. Despite the unresolved irritation, Warhol put the dispute aside for the journey and opening, describing the need to remain friendly while conducting business. The episode places the museum reception within the working day’s negotiations, showing the opening as a social commitment Warhol attended even after a sharp professional exchange.