BOOTING UP: Eric shows off colour-co-ordinated footwear, luggage and car (photo: Dave Naz). Top banner: the photographer and some of the books he has authored or edited since the 1990s
Eric Kroll, famous Taschen photographer, seeks funds.
Eric Kroll, the American photographer whose collaborations with Taschen in the 1990s are credited with opening up the mass market for fetish coffee-table books, is appealing for financial help after falling on hard times. On his gofundme.com appeal page, the 69-year-old – now resident in Tucson, Arizona – explains what donations from fans would mean to him right now
The 69-year-old, currently resident in the foothills of Tucson, Arizona “where Lee Marvin lived”, has launched a campaign on gofundme.com to make up the shortfall in his income that he is now experiencing.
On his appeal page, titled Preserve Collection of Fine Erotica, Kroll states: “I stopped making money about ten years ago and live on my social security and good looks.
“I have my basic bills paid with that income but the home association fees are beyond me and frankly, people aren’t buying my work, though more and more people seem to be aware of this same work.”
His appeal goal is $6,000, of which more than two-thirds had been raised at time of writing.
“I will use this money to pay my assocation bills,” he explains, adding ruefully: “I need the money yesterday.”
The campaign page is profusely illustrated with photos and videos of the rooms of his house where his art collection is displayed.
“I learned from my friend and sometimes employer, Benedikt Taschen, that all art (low and high) should be equally appreciated,” says Eric.
“Therefore preserving mid-century to present erotica is very important. The money will allow me to keep the collection together until an institution takes it. I will be killer thankful.”
Eric Kroll had two best-sellling books of his own work published by Taschen: Fetish Girls (1994) and Beauty Parade (1997).
In the following decade or so he became a curator of other kinky artists’ work for the same German publisher.
Editing projects included The Art of Eric Stanton (1996), Elmer Batters (1996), The Wonderful World of Bill Ward, King of the Glamour Girls (2003) and The New Erotic Photography (2007, co-edited with Dian Hanson).
‘The money will allow me to keep the collection together until an institution takes it. I will be killer thankful’
– Eric Kroll
Eric’s own photography was also published by NBM Publishing in The Transformation of Gwen (2000) and The Transformation of Gwen, Vol 2 (2001).
And by coincidence Eric Kroll has had a presence on The Fetishistas for the past month, in our August cover interview with Steve Diet Goedde, whose retro- spective trilogy Arrangements Eric has been editing.
Potential donors should note that, unlike project campaigns run on Kickstarter and other crowdfunding websites, this gofundme.com appeal does not offer rewards for contributions; just the pleasure of knowing you’ve helped someone in their hour of need.
Click the link below now if you would like to help Eric.
BELOW: Views of two of the rooms in Eric’s home, packed with erotica from half a century of collecting
Tags: Fundraising, Personalities, Publishing
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