It's not often you get the chance to meet a bona-fide superstar, but I did just that at the launch of And Then He Was a She, a new exhibition at London's Drill Hall.

The paintings on display are portraits of Holly Woodlawn, one of the few surviving members of Andy Warhol's 'Factory' entourage and the star of his cult classic movie Trash.

Miss Woodlawn travelled all the way from Los Angeles to attend the show's opening night and spent the evening ensconced in regal splendour in the downstairs bar, elegantly lapping up the attention of a gaggle of star-struck fans.

Dressed to the nines in leopard skin, blonde wig and black stockings, it’s easy to see why she captured the imagination of award winning artist Sadie Lee.

Perhaps best known for her portraits of former burlesque stars, which formed part of the Ladies of the Burlesque exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery, Lee first met Holly at a trangender film festival in Amsterdam. It was love at first sight, and she determined there are then to capture Woodlawn's unique personality on canvas.

Just like their subject matter, these paintings are big, brave and unapologetic. Woodlawn is the undisputed star here. Boldly lit against a plain black background, her imposing figure amply fills the small gallery space.

Lee apparently spent a week in her subject's apartment, studying, drawing and photographing, generally getting to know the real Holly Woodlawn, and it shows. These paintings reveal the person behind the drag, effectively demonstrating the intimate moments that most people never get to see.

Once described as the “Face of the 70s” by Truman Capote (whose most famous creation Holly Golightly was the inspiration for Woodlawn's first name), she is as glamorous today as she was thirty years ago, but also shows another side to her personality here.

By daring to portray the 'off-duty' Holly, hand on hip and casually dressed in jeans and T-shirt, or semi-naked and tightly gripping the rail of a zimmer frame, Lee has cleverly captured the frail, aging man behind the make-up mask.

Next door, another gallery includes footage of Holly in her prime, posing with Andy Warhol and hamming it up in one of her many film appearances, while a fascinating taped conversation between Warhol and his enigmatic muse reveals something of their bizarre relationship.

I challenge you not to be impressed by these incredible portrayals of an equally incredible character. Beauty, age and gender are just three of the themes tackled here, and while these portrayals are intimate, they never feel invasive - it's obvious that Holly enjoyed being painted just as much as Sadie Lee enjoyed painting her.

The extra material makes much of her associations with Warhol and Lou Reed, but there is more to Holly Woodlawn than just a celebrity hanger on. She's an exceptional and fascinating figure in her own right.

And just in case you are wondering, I did ask for an autograph. Miss Woodlawn obliged with the utmost courtesy, scrawling the words 'To Alan, love you madly always, Holly Woodlawn', finishing it all off with a crimson red lipstick kiss across the front page of my exhibition catalogue.

What can I say - Holly is one of the few people who more than deserves the title of ‘Living Legend'. She made my day. Make sure you see this show and she may just make yours too.

Read our interview with Sadie Lee.

And then He was a She: Paintings of Holly Woodlawn, by Sadie Lee
The Drill Hall
16 Chenies Street
London, WC1E 7EX
020 7307 5060

1 October-11 November 2007

For opening times and related information www.drillhall.co.uk. Official website for the exhibition www.andthenhewasashe.com.

Get the classic Warhol transgender superstar movie Women In Revolt, starring Holly Woodlawn. Buy the DVD online and save money!