Andy Warhol

Biography

Andy Warhol was born Andrew Warhola in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 1928. In 1945 he entered the Carnegie Institute of Technology where he majored in pictorial design. Upon graduation, Warhol moved to New York and found work as a commercial artist working for magazines including Vogue and the New Yorker. Warhol won several commendations from the Art Director’s Club and the American Institute of Graphic Arts. During these early years Warhol shortened his name to 'Warhol'.

In 1952 Warhol had his first individual show at the Hugo Gallery exhibiting his ìFifteen Drawings Based on the Writings of Truman Capote. The 1960’s were a prolific period for Warhol and the start of the Pop Art movement where he created many paintings of mundane objects. His intent was to remove the difference between the fine arts and the commercial arts. 1962 was the year he started his famous portraits of Marilyn Monroe and Elizabeth Taylor. Not only did Warhol depict mass produced product, he also wanted to mass produce his own work and he did this by creating The Factory.

Warhol’s trust in people diminished when artist Valerie Solanis walked into his studio in 1968 and shot him three times in the chest. The attack was nearly fatal.

In the 1970’s Warhol began publishing Interview magazine and rediscovered his passion for painting. The philosopher who spent his time on mass produced images was now spending his time painting the rich and famous. Warhol was now firmly established as a major 20th Century artist and exhibiting his work in galleries and museums around the world. Works at this time included the Maos, Skulls and Sickles.

The 1980’s saw Warhol publishing POPism: The Warhol 60’s and also an exhibition of Portraits of Jews of the Twentieth Century. Sadly, following routine gall bladder surgery, Andy Warhol died on February 22nd, 1987.