Growing 1981 Larry Rivers Fixed Jun 2026

In 2010, New York University returned the films to the Larry Rivers Foundation following protests regarding their ethical nature and the lack of consent from the subjects.

The daughters have spent years seeking the return of the footage to ensure it is never made public, while the Foundation initially sought to keep the materials restricted during the daughters' lifetimes rather than destroying them.

The legacy of this specific project is marked by a significant divide between artistic intent and the privacy of the subjects involved. growing 1981 larry rivers

The early 1980s marked a period of profound transition in the American art world. As Neo-Expressionism began its aggressive rise and the gritty energy of New York's East Village scene took hold, the pioneers of Pop Art and Proto-Pop were forced to reinvent themselves or solidify their legacies. It was during this cultural pivot point that Larry Rivers—frequently dubbed the "Godfather of Pop Art"—created Growing (1981).

While Larry Rivers remains a significant figure in 20th-century art, the revelation of the Growing material has led to a re-evaluation of his methods and the ethical responsibilities of artists toward their subjects. In 2010, New York University returned the films

Growing (1981) is a quintessential late-career Rivers piece. It features:

In the mid-1970s, Rivers, a pioneer in the newly accessible medium of video, set out to create a documentary unlike any other. He began a project that would last for several years, from roughly 1976 to 1981. His subjects were his own two daughters, Gwynne and Emma Rivers. The premise was simple on its surface: to document the process of puberty, specifically the development of their bodies. At six-month intervals, Rivers would film his daughters, who were approximately 11 years old when the filming began. The girls were filmed either fully naked or topless, while their father made comments and asked them pointed questions about the changes happening to their bodies, particularly their breasts. The resulting footage was eventually edited and titled Growing , completed in 1981. The early 1980s marked a period of profound

The series documented the children's physical growth over several years, with Rivers providing commentary and conducting interviews with his daughters during the sessions.

"Growing" was not a spontaneous event but a systematic, five-year documentary project. Starting in , when each of his daughters — Gwynne Rivers and Emma Tamburlini — was about 11 years old, Rivers filmed them at six-month intervals. He continued this process until 1981, when his younger daughter Emma reached 16 years old.