Rare archive of music fandom to go on display in Lincoln
Rare and previously unseen photographs and personal memorabilia collected over a lifetime by Lincolnshire photographer André Waszczyszyn will go on public display for the first time this autumn in a new exhibition at the University of Lincoln Arts Centre.
Superfan: The Property of André Waszczyszyn opens on 1st October at the Project Space Plus Gallery, presenting a personal archive built over decades. The collection documents André’s lifelong connection to music and live performance, bringing together his photography of artists including David Bowie, Debbie Harry and Iggy Pop with concert tickets, bootleg recordings, autographs and other memorabilia gathered over the years. A self-described “superfan”, André followed tours around the world, attending gigs, waiting outside venues and documenting the culture surrounding live music. He became a familiar figure within fan communities and met a number of the artists he admired during his lifetime.
The exhibition arrives in the year that marks a decade since the death of David Bowie and would also have been André’s 70th birthday following his passing in 2024. He left behind a wish that his family might do something with the vast collection of music memorabilia he assembled over a lifetime of fandom and photography. His wife Sue and daughter Jo have since worked with Associate Professor Rachel Baynton from the University of Lincoln’s School of Creative Arts to bring the collection into a public exhibition for the first time.
Sue Waszczyszyn, André’s wife, said he was: “A true gentleman to all who knew him, he would have been truly humbled by this exhibition. This is far more than the three of us could have dreamt of when he said there’s some negative, you should really do something with them!”
Rachel said: “Speaking with Jo, it became clear that this is a very special collection, a treasure trove of unseen photographs, objects and publications covering a period of history that transformed our culture.
“More than that though, it’s a unique and human perspective that tells the story of a life devoted to love and connection through music – something that’s familiar to us all.”
The exhibition has been curated by artist-academics Dr Andrew Bracey and Ollie Smith in collaboration with the Waszczyszyn family and Lincoln Arts Centre. Together, the photographs and objects offer a personal perspective on music fandom and live performance, capturing not only the artists André admired but the culture and communities that surrounded them.
Superfan: The Property of André Waszczyszyn runs from 1st–22nd October at the Project Space Plus Gallery, Lincoln Arts Centre.
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