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Dash Snow, 1981-2009

Wunderkind artist Dash Snow overdosed in New York this week. Ana Finel Honigman spoke to his inner circle—including Ryan McGinley and Terence Koh, who share never-before-seen images of Snow.

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Ryan McGinley
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A young and handsome Snow.

Ryan McGinley
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This photo, provided by artist Pearl C. Hsiung, shows Snow hanging out at a shooting range.

Courtesy of Ana Finel Honigman
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Artist Rita Ackermann painted this acrylic work in 1999, but since Dash Snow’s death, has renamed it For Dash, after her friend.

RITA ACKERMANN
Unprofessionals: Artist
1999
ink and acrylic paint on rice paper
35 x 35 inches (88.90 x 88.90 cm)

Rita Ackermann / Courtesy Andrea Rosen Gallery, New York
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Snow with Hsiung and her boyfriend Scott Martin. Of Snow, Martin says, “Dash loved listening to records all night... he would frantically put on a record then gracefully slide up next to you barefoot, and I'm talking about an inch away, wrap his arm around your shoulders or waist. And he'd warn "OK, here comes this part, these lyrics, they're so damaged, watch..." Then he would start reciting the words to the song in a whisper almost into your mouth. The sun would be coming up and he'd be lovingly staring into your eyes and singing.. and after he was done reciting his part, he’d flip his cigarette around in his hand and gently put it in your mouth, and he'd purse his lips, like he was coaching you…and you'd take a drag and go "Yeah man, I fucking love this song too.” He is probably the sweetest and kindest person I've ever known... I love you snowman."

Courtesy of Ana Finel Honigman
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The following three images show Dash Snow as shot by his best friend, photographer Ryan McGinley. McGinley, the youngest artist to have a solo show at the Whitney Museum of American Art, is already considered a canonized photographer at age 31. Dash Snow was one of his oldest friends and longstanding muses. McGinley's candid, lyrical images of Snow 's feral fun are already iconic.

Ryan McGinley
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Of his friend, McGinley says, “It’s hard to remember exactly when I met Dash. It seems like we were immediately best friends. ...When Dash was drunk, he would always tell you how much he loved you. You couldn’t get him to stop singing Rolling Stones songs. Right before the verse, he’d nudge you and sing the words close to your face... One of my favorite things about Dash was always his unconscious moving hand. He would be sitting there smoking cigarettes, writing his tag in the air without being aware of it. I would just smile and watch the smoke twirl into the letters S A C E. That’s how I’ll always remember him."

Ryan McGinley
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A young picture of the artist at a 2001 ARE Weapons show, from his friend Rosalie Knox. She wrote, “Look. How gorgeous is he? I have searched through my photo albums to try to find pictures of him. I have over 100 giant books. Kind of surprised I didn't end up with more photos of him. He was fast!"

Rosalie Knox
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Another iconic image of Snow from his close friend.

Ryan McGinley
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The boys at play—Snow’s social world often involved drugs, violence, and nudity, but also a good deal of friendship.

Ryan McGinley
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McGinley shot a series of well-known photos of Snow tagging walls and crafting graffiti, part of his work in a street crew.

Ryan McGinley
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Working hard, playing hard.

Ryan McGinley
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Here, Snow poses with an inverted cross by his friend, sculptor Terence Koh, inside the Asia Song Society, 2008.

Courtesy of Terence Koh
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A photo from Ana Honigman of Snow, Mark Krayenhoff, and AA Bronson at the all-gold dinner party at Mr. Chow's (hosted by Mary Boone) in celebration of Terence Koh's 2007 opening at the Whitney Museum.

Courtesy of Ana Finel Honigman
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Best friends Ryan McGinley, Dan Colen and Dash Snow at the all-gold dinner party at Mr. Chow's. The three were featured that year in a New York magazine cover story about their wild lifestyle.

Courtesy of Ana Finel Honigman
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A collaborative collage between Dash Snow and Leo Fitzpatrick, submitted by the latter as a remembrance.

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A snapshot of Snow’s rock-star tendencies, from friend Rosalie Knox.

Rosalie Knox
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A fun—if not racially touchy—moment between Snow and his friend, artist Terence Koh. Koh writes, “Dash was one of the gentlest, most generous and affectionate friends I had. I miss him very much but love him even more. He made me smile a lot, but most importantly, he made my heart laugh.”

Courtesy of Terence Koh