‘We nearly threw them out’: the photographs of Andy Warhol that sat in a cupboard for 50 years

‘When I walked in, Taylor Mead was absolutely naked,’ said William John Kennedy. ‘Andy (here assisted by Gerard Malanga) was at the camera shooting the film which became Taylor Mead's Ass.’ Photograph: William John Kennedy

Marie Kennedy, wife of William John Kennedy

The story of these photographs begins when my husband, William John Kennedy, attended the opening of Robert Indiana’s first solo show in New York in 1962. Bill had just set up his photography studio in the city and was going to lots of exhibitions, meeting artists. He was a fantastic person, very likable; he got along with all different kinds of folk – and he was very attractive too. When he and Robert met, they hit it off right away. Robert thought Bill was the handsomest guy in town.