Andy Warhol August 6, 1928 to February 22, 1987

Warhol Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to Slovakian parents. Andy Warhol was born Warhola but due to a typo in a magazine which showcased a drawing of his, it became Warhol and he kept it. The magazine was Glamour magazine for an article titled "Success is a Job in New York." From 1945 to 1949 he studied Commercial Art at the Carnegie Mellon University. After his schooling he moved to New York City to peruse a career in Commercial art. He was successful as commercial artist and did work for Harpers Bazaar, Vogue and the New Yorker.

Warhol’s Work Warhol’s was first known for his inkblot style of drawings. He was considered a Pop Artist. The technique he developed that brought him fame was using the screen printing method to create his images. Andy never really drew his subject matter he would take photos of the people or subject matter and create screens and then pull the color over the various screens. In 1952 he started showing his work. By the 1960’s he had moved to a studio called the Warehouse where he produced many of his most famous works.

More of Warhol Some of his most famous works that came out of the 1960’s were Campbell's Soup Cans, Coke Bottles, Disaster paintings and portraits such as Marilyn Monroe. During this time he got into making movies, which were bizarre to say the least. One movie was of a man sleeping. The Factory became a hangout for famous people, Mick Jagger and Truman Capote. In 1968 Valerie Solanas a woman who knew Warhol fired 3 bullets at Warhol in his studio, wounding him in the stomach. He survived but had complications with his health as a result of the gun shot.

Warhol’s Fame Warhol Celebrity status was almost as great as his fame for his artwork. Some of the famous people that Warhol did portraites of were Mick Jagger, Michael Jackson, Marilyn Monroe, Elvis Presley, John Lennon, Jackie Kennedy, Moa Tse Tung, Queen Elizabeth, Mickey Mouse, Super Man. It was said that you knew when you arrived and considered popular enough when Andy Warhol did a portrait of you.

Other Interesting Things Andy was coined as saying "In the future everyone will be world- famous for 15 minutes.” Warhol along with many other famous people during the 70’s would hang out at Studio 54 which was a theater and Discothèque. Warhol like his social life and was always at all the hottest parties and gatherings from the 1960’s to 1980’s. Warhol despite his very public and fast life style, was a very religious person. He even help fund his nephews studies to become a catholic priest.

Warhol’s Death “Isn't life a series of images that change as they repeat themselves?” Warhol had many quotes and it was interesting that much of them dealt with life and his death. In February 22, 1987 Warhol died from complications from Gallbladder surgery. He died from an irregular heartbeat. Warhol had delayed this surgery he feared surgeries, doctors and hospitals. At his funeral there was over 2000 people in attendance. “Warhol's will dictated that his entire estate, with the exception of a few modest legacies to family members, would go to create a foundation dedicated to the "advancement of the visual arts". Warhol had so many possessions that it took Sotheby's nine days to auction his estate after his death; the auction grossed more than US$20 million. His total estate was worth considerably more, due in no small part to shrewd investments over the years.” The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts was founded by his family per his request. This has become one of the largest grant giving foundations in the US.

His Works

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