Andy Warhol was one of the most influential artists of the 20th century. He often changed his date of birth to « add mystery » but most people believe that he was born on August 6, 1928 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. {Andy Warhol Pop art painter, Susan Goldman Rubin} His art reflected the rapidly changing American culture. When he was young, he was obsessed with fame, glamour, Hollywood stars, movies and painting. As he grew older, he transformed his obsessions into art and started his career as a commercial illustrator. He wanted to be rich and famous like the celebrities of his childhood but he knew that nobody got famous while being a commercial illustrator. Since he was so talented, he decided to be a “serious” artist. He then used his background as a commercial artist to blur the line between commercial art and fine art like the one done by famous European painters like Monet, Paul Gauguin, Van Gogh or Edgar Degas. His first very famous drawing was of a Campbell Soup Can. That was the beginning of Warhol’s fame, which just grew over the years. He represented “American” things. He used everyday life objects and images of famous people as the subjects for his work, often repeating them many times in one painting or print on a huge canvas with the silk screening method. He also changed their sizes and put new,flashy colors or repeated the same design over and over again. He represented all that was happening around him at that time. He also had a period where he showed horrible car crashes and other disasters but he mostly stuck with celebrities, household objects and other common «American »things . He was the most influential leader of the American art movement known as “pop” for popular art and made a status for the USA in the art world.
Andy Warhol was a very unique person. Nobody ever knew if he really was an art genius or if he tricked us all into thinking that he was one. He was considered like the “Prince of
Pop” and very much admired
Bibliography: -The Philosophy of Andy Warhol: (From A to B and Back Again), 1975" -Andy Warhol Pop art painter, Susan Goldman Rubin, Abrams books for young readers