Andy Warhol
Andy Warhol was born in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania in 1928. His original name is Andrew Warhola. In 1945, he attended the Carnegie Institute of Technology. He majored in Pictorial Design. He then moved to New York to work as a commercial artist. He worked for magazines such as Vogue, The New Yorker, and Glamour.
1950’s was the time when Andy switched his name to “Warhol.” He continued his work as a commercial artist, winning several awards. In 1952, he had his first show in the Hugo Gallery. He exhibited fifteen different drawings. This show led to his first show at The MoMA (Museum of Modern Art) in New York City, in 1956.
The 1960’s brought a new interest of pop culture for Warhol. His pieces included Campbell’s Soup cans, Marilyn Monroe, and Blow Job. Some of these pieces became underground classics. In 1968, the founder for SCUM (Society for Cutting up Men), entered Warhol’s studio, and shot him. Warhol survived, but the attack was almost fatal.
In the 1970’s, Warhol focused more on painting and publishing literature. He worked on publishing a magazine called Interview. He also wrote a book called The Philosophy of Andy Warhol (From A to B and Back Again). As Warhol established himself as a well-known artist and celebrity, his work was being shown at museums and galleries throughout the world. Many portraits from this decade include Torsos and Shadows, Skulls, and Mao.
The 1980’s came with the technology the era had brought. Warhol published POPism: The Warhol 60’s. In addition, Warhol created two television shows. “Andy Warhol’s TV” was created in 1982, and then “Andy Warhol’s Fifteen Minutes” was created for MTV in 1986. This was also a beginning to collaboration with other artists such as Jean-Michel Basquiat, Francesco Clemente and Keith Haring. Andy Warhol died on February 22nd, 1987 after a routine gall bladder surgery. There was a memorial held at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City by his friends and associates.
Warhol’s media is considered oil, acrylic, lithography, silkscreen enamel on cavas, and paint. He would get a photo of image, for example, Marylin Monroe, and silkscreen print the photo on canvas. Then, he would go back, and paint over the silkscreen, and make it his own. He is specifically associated with American Pop Art. There is a contrast between art and reality with Warhol’s work. His followers have been described as attitude artists. Pop Art describes an attitude. His followers go beyond the dramatization in the ideas of the artwork.
I chose this artist, because He has had a similar goal to mine. I loved researching him to understand how he achieved being an artist. Warhol moved to New York City. I want to live there for the rest of my life, and I hope to work too! This artist inspired me through his goals and career. As for his artwork, I very much enjoy the modern prints and pop culture that is brought into Warhol’s work. Also the repetition-endless rows of Coca-Cola bottles presented and arranged is something that also caught my eye. Finally, I thought it was interesting that he used silkscreen. It was almost a way for him to eliminate his personal signature. He depicted life and images of the time without comment.
**Please find works by this artist at https://laxlover4.angelfire.com/andy_warhol_artwork/
Works Cited
"Lostate Minor." 10 Jul 2009 <www.lostateminor.com/.../andy-warhol-marilyn.jpg>.
Andy Warhol Foundation. 10 Jul 2009 <http://www.warholfoundation.org/>.
The J. Paul Getty Museum . 10 Jul 2009
<http://www.getty.edu/art/gettyguide/artObjectDetails?artobj=133853>.
https://laxlover4.angelfire.com/andy_warhol_artwork
