Andy Warhol

Andy Warhol was a prominent figure in pop art, which gained popularity in the latter half of the 20th century. He is most famous for his mass-produced paintings of Campbell's soup cans, but he also created hundreds of other works, from commercial ads to films. Warhol's most notable pieces, including the soup cans, expressed his perspective on the mundane aspects of American commercial culture.

Early Life and Education

Andy Warhol was born on August 6, 1928, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He grew up in a modest household with his older brothers, Paul and John, and his parents, Andrej and Julia Warhol. Both of his parents had emigrated from Czechoslovakia, now known as Slovakia. The Warhol family was deeply devout, practicing Byzantine Catholicism, and regularly attended Mass. They also maintained their Eastern European heritage, which influenced Warhol's early life and later artistic sensibilities.

Even as a young boy, Andy Warhol showed a keen interest in creating images through drawing, coloring, and cutting and pasting. His mother, Julia Warhola, who also had an interest in art, nurtured his budding talent. Whenever he completed a page of her coloring book, she would encourage him by giving him a chocolate bar as a reward. This early encouragement from his mother played an important role in fostering Warhol's creative abilities and passion for art.

Elementary school was a challenging time for Andy Warhol. He developed Sydenham's chorea, also known as St. Vitus' Dance, a disease that affects the nervous system and causes uncontrollable tremors. The condition caused Warhol to miss much of school as he was put on bed rest for several months. Additionally, the disease caused large, pink patches to appear on his skin, which affected his self-esteem and acceptance among his peers. He was often teased and given nicknames such as "Spot" and "Andy the Red-Nosed Warhola". These experiences contributed to Warhol's lifelong interest in clothing, wigs, cosmetics, and eventually plastic surgery as he tried to address his physical imperfections.

During high school, Andy Warhol took art classes at his school and the Carnegie Institute (now the Carnegie Museum of Art). He was somewhat of an outcast, known for his quiet demeanor, frequent sketching, and his surprisingly pale skin and white-blonde hair. Despite his social challenges, Warhol found solace in his artistic pursuits. He also loved watching movies and began collecting memorabilia of celebrities, especially signed photographs. This hobby would later influence his artwork, as many of these photographs appeared in his iconic works.

After graduating from high school, Andy Warhol enrolled at the Carnegie Institute of Technology (present-day Carnegie Mellon University) in 1945. He majored in graphical design and graduated in 1949. This education provided him with a strong foundation in the arts, which he would build upon. Later, he went on to become a leading figure in the Pop Art movement.

Blotted-Line Technique

During college, Andy Warhol developed a unique artistic method known as the blotted-line technique. The process involved taping two pieces of blank paper together at one edge. Warhol would then create an image in ink on a page. Before the ink dried, he pressed two pieces of paper together, transferring the ink and creating a drawing with irregular, broken lines. These lines can then be filled in with watercolor, creating a distinctive and delicate effect. This technique combined elements of drawing and printmaking, demonstrating Warhol's innovative approach to art.

After graduating from Carnegie Institute of Technology (now Carnegie Mellon University) in 1949, Andy Warhol moved to New York City and began a career as a commercial illustrator. Over the next decade, he received critical recognition for his innovative use of the blotted-line technique in various commercial advertisements. His unique style and creative approach soon made him stand out in the industry.

Warhol's paintings became highly sought after, and he created memorable advertisements for many clients. Among his most famous works were his shoe advertisements for I. Miller, which showcased his distinctive style and artistic talent. He also designed Christmas cards, book covers, and album covers for Tiffany & Co. and even illustrated Amy Vanderbilt's "Complete Book of Etiquette."

Pop Art

Around 1960, Warhol wanted to become famous in Pop art, a new style that had begun in England in the mid-1950s. This genre featured realistic pictures of ordinary, everyday things. Warhol stopped using his old blotted-line technique and decided to use paint and canvas instead. However, he was unable to decide what to paint.

Warhol started by painting Coke bottles and comic strips, but his work needed more attention. In December 1961, a friend suggested that he paint what he liked most, such as money or soup cans. Warhol decided to paint both.

Warhol's first art gallery show was at the Ferus Gallery in Los Angeles in 1962. He displayed paintings of Campbell's soup cans, one for each of the 32 types made by the company. He sold the entire set for $1,000. Soon, Warhol's work became famous around the world, and he became a leader in the new Pop Art movement.

Silk-Screening

Unfortunately for Warhol, he could not paint on canvas fast enough. In July 1962 he came to know about silk screening. This process uses a special piece of silk as a stencil, allowing him to create the same image multiple times.

He soon began building paintings of political and Hollywood figures, notably a large collection of Marilyn Monroe paintings. Warhol used this style for the rest of his life. Mass production not only spread his art but also became his art form.

Movies

In the 1960s, while Warhol continued to paint, he also made films. His films were known for being creatively erotic, having no plot, and being extremely long – up to 25 hours long. Between 1963 and 1968, he made about 60 films. One of them, "Sleep", is a five-and-a-half-hour film showing a naked man sleeping. Warhol later said, "We were making so many movies, we didn't even bother giving titles to very many of them."

On July 3, 1968, unhappy actress Valerie Solanas, who spent time at Warhol's studio called The Factory, shot him in the chest. Less than 30 minutes later, Warhol was declared clinically dead. The doctor then opened Warhol's chest and massaged his heart to restart it. It worked, and Warhol's life was saved, but it took him a long time to recover.

Warhol continued painting during the 1970s and 1980s. He began publishing a magazine called "Interview" and wrote several books about himself and pop art. He also tried television, producing two shows for MTV: "Andy Warhol's TV" and "Andy Warhol's Fifteen Minutes." He even appeared on "The Love Boat" and "Saturday Night Live."

Death

Andy Warhol passed away in Manhattan on February 22, 1987, at the age of 58. News reports said he had been recovering well from gallbladder surgery at New York Hospital but died in his sleep from a sudden irregular heartbeat. Warhol had delayed getting his gallbladder issues checked because he was afraid of hospitals and doctors. His family sued the hospital, claiming improper care and water intoxication caused the irregular heartbeat. The case was quickly settled out of court, and the family received an undisclosed sum of money.

Shortly before Warhol's death, doctors were hopeful that he would survive during surgery. However, a re-evaluation nearly thirty years later showed that the surgery was riskier than initially thought. At the time, it was widely reported that Warhol died from "routine" surgery. But given his age, family history of gall bladder problems, previous gunshot wound, and his medical condition in the weeks before the procedure, the risk of death was actually significant.

Warhol's brother sent his dead body to Pittsburgh, where a public funeral wake was conducted at the Thomas P. Kunsak Funeral Home.

The bronze casket was adorned with gold-plated rails and white upholstery. Warhol was dressed in a black cashmere suit, a paisley tie, sunglasses, and a platinum wig. He held a small prayer book and a red rose. The funeral liturgy was at the Holy Ghost Byzantine Catholic Church on Pittsburgh's North Side on February 27, 1987. Monsignor Peter Tay gave the eulogy, and Yoko Ono and John Richardson also spoke. The coffin was covered with asparagus ferns and white roses.

After the ritual, the coffin was taken to a Catholic Cemetery in Bethel Park, a suburb of Pittsburgh, where Warhol was buried near his parents. After a brief prayer, the priest sprayed the coffin with holy water. Before it was lowered, Warhol's close friend, Paige Powell, placed a copy of Interview magazine and a bottle of Beautiful Eau de Parfum by Estée Lauder into the grave. A memorial service for Warhol was held at St. Patrick's Cathedral in Manhattan on April 1, 1987.

Legacy

Warhol's work is displayed in a large collection at the Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh. The website refers to it as "one of the most extensive single-artist museums globally and the largest in North America." The collection includes paintings, drawings, commercial illustrations, sculptures, prints, photographs, wallpapers, sketchbooks, and books, covering his entire career, from his student work to his Pop Art paintings and collaborations.

In his will, Warhol stated that his entire estate be used to create a foundation to support the visual arts. The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts was established in 1987.