Letter: Queer Warhol

Sir: I must protest against the puritan jibes of Tom Lubbock about Warhol in his review of the current show at the Barbican (2 June).

Warhol encapsulates something of immense historical importance about American capitalist culture in the late 20th century. In everything he did (films, paintings, magazines, books, collectibles) he expressed his fascination with capitalist commodity fetishism with great wit and camp good humour, as this hugely enjoyable show demonstrates.

The artist and the gay man cannot and should not be separated. They were one. For many of "us" Warhol is an exemplary queer artist.

ROGER COOK

Lecturer in Fine Art

The University of Reading