Andy Warhol, the visionary leader of Pop Art, revolutionized the 20th century art world. Exploring the intersection between art, celebrity and consumer culture, he created some of the most iconic artworks of our times. Setting new standards for what art could be, he introduced silkscreen printing, repetition and color variations into his series of works, including Campbell's Soup Cans, Marilyn Monroe, Flowers and Mao.
Andy Warhol was born Andrew Warhola on August 6, 1928 in Pittsburgh, to an immigrant working-class family from eastern Slovakia. After moving to New York, he began as a commercial illustrator, before pioneering a new form of art, that blurred the boundaries between high art, celebrity culture and mass media. Warhol founded The Factory, his legendary art studio and social hub in New York City, which operated from 1962 until his death in 1987 across four different locations. It was not just a workspace but a cultural phenomenon that fused art production with nightlife, celebrity culture, and avant-garde socializing. His innovative use of silkscreen printing allowed him to produce large editions lice the iconic Marilyn portfolio, Campbell's Soup Cans I and II and the Endangered Species portfolio among others. Andy Warhol died on February 22, 1987, aged only 57 years, after complications following a routine surgery. His legacy endures as one of the most influential artists of the 20th century, with his work being part of the most important museum and private collections in the world.