By Jack Mitchell – Wikimedia

Top 10 Facts about Andy Warhol


 

Andy Warhol is one of the most eminent figures in modern art. He remains to be the talk in town when it comes to books, films, scholarly discourses, and exhibitions.

Warhol was born in 1928 to working-class parents, Andrej and Julia Warhola, in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania. His parents had immigrated from Slovakia. Andy was the youngest of three brothers.  

His most popular work is the iconic soup cans that were the base of New York City Culture. Andy’s work explored artistic expressions and celebrity culture. He was able to use his art in advertising in the 60s through painting, photography, and sculptures.

Some of Andy’s best works were the silkscreen paintings of Campbell’s Soup Cans and Marilyn Diptych. There is more about Andy Warhol in the top 10 facts below.   

1. Warhol’s first job was as a commercial illustrator

Photo sourced from Wikimedia

His first job was as a commercial illustrator. This was one of his very successful careers as a commercial advert designer.

He used his artistic talent to create easily recognizable and visually stimulating images. This was really good for the industry since consumers were drawn to gods through their imagery.

Warhol was able to recreate a shopping in a supermarket experience on canvas.  His art shone a light on consumer habits in America.

Later, Andy exhibited his work in galleries and got recognition as an influential and controversial artist. His studio in New York became a popular meeting place for intellectuals, playwrights, celebrities and other art lovers.  

2. He suffered from a neurological disorder as a child

Warhol suffered from Sydenham chorea as a youngster. This is a neurological disorder also known as St. Vitus dance. The disorder causes one’s limbs to involuntarily move.

Because of this, Warhol spent most of his time at home. He would read comic books and magazines as well as play with paper cuts. Andy got his first camera when he turned 8.

This period was important to Andy because he discovered and developed his personality. Unfortunately, his father died when he turned 13.

3. Warhol went to study art education

By Jack Kightlinger – Wikimedia

Warhol graduated from Schenley High School in 1945. He won a Scholastic Art and Writing Award. This motivated him to study art education at the University of Pittsburgh. He wanted to be an art teacher.

This did not happen, instead, Warhol went to the Carnegie Institute of Technology to study commercial art. While there, he joined the Campus Modern Dance Club and Beaux Arts Society.

Warhol served as an art director for the student art magazine where he illustrated a full-page interior. This was his first published work.

He graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in pictorial design in 1949. Warhol moved to New York and started his career as a commercial artist.

That same year, his first work was published in Glamour magazine that made him an award-winning illustrator.

4. Warhol spent most of his life in New York

Andy Warhol represented the rich artistic culture in New York City. This was his home for most of his life. The shift in culture in the city is greatly attributed to him.

He learnt silk screening techniques from Arthur Cohn who owned a graphic arts business in Manhattan. Warhol developed a blotted line technique while working in the shoe industry.   

Andy used tracing paper and ink to repeat the basic image and created endless variations on the theme.

5. Warhol was raised by Catholic Parents

Photo by Peter Zelizňák – Wikimedia

Warhol’s parents were Byzantine Catholic, and he was raised as one. Andy schooled at St. John Chrysostom Byzantine Catholic Church.

He regularly attended Liturgy but never participated in the Holy Communion neither did he go to confession. Warhol mentioned that he did not want to be seen in a Roman Rite church crossing himself.

Most of his art was influenced by the Eastern Christian tradition, which was evident in his places of worship.

6. Warhol was not shy about his sexuality

Being openly gay was criminalized in the 1950s in America. This did not stop Warhol who portrayed his sexuality in his art and films. He did not shy away from including intimate scenes in them.

In one of his first films, nearly six-hour-long Sleep, he featured his partner sleeping nude. His portraits depicted male forms such as feet, torso and genitalia.

He did not have a fear of mixing business with pleasure. Some of his business associates were Edward Wallowitch, Ted Carey, John Giorno, Jed Johnson, and Jon Gould.

He used his art to create awareness of the HIV/AIDs crisis in the 1980s within the gay community.  

7. His style was not always accepted

By Jack Kightlinger – Wikimedia

Andy’s art was met with opposition from art professors who did not approve of his unique style while he studied at the Carnegie Institute for Technology.

This made him put in more effort in his course work and even went to summer school to be in good academic standing with his professors.

Despite the cold reception by his tutors, Warhol travelled to Japan, India, Egypt, Italy and Cambodia. Through his travel, he connected more with his art. He made his move to the iconic style we came to know him for.

8. A museum was built in his honour

Andy Warhol’s work inspired many and art lovers. His genuine love for his work made his art irreplaceable.

The Andy Warhol Museum, in Pittsburgh, was built in his memory. It is one of the largest museums in America with an art collection devoted to a single artist.

It was visited by more than 25,000 people in the first week of its opening. The number keeps going up each year. Some of his personal items are displayed at the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts.

The foundation offers to fund artists that need to have their work exhibited.  

9. Warhol described himself as self-educated

By Jack Mitchell – Wikimedia

Warhol always described himself as self-educated. His work and talent were recognized by his professors at the Carnegie Institute of Technology.

When he moved to New York, he loved to volunteer at homeless shelters especially during busier times of the year. Warhol described himself as a religious person.

10. Warhol was best friends with his mother

Warhol was very close to his mother that she moved in with him after he moved to New York. She was also the inspiration behind most of his artwork and she signed them too.

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