Andy Warhol Paintings: The
Pinnacle of Pop
In 1928, Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania hosted the birth of a man that would soon change the face of
modern art. Named Andrew Warhola, this was a man that was destined to rule Pop
art and define its parameters, or most aptly, blur its lines. Andy Warhol
paintings today are considered as priceless collectors item’s and even
replica’s of his art work are considered as great additions to any home.
What fueled Warhol’s success was
his paintings of pop culture and icons and this series began in the 1960’s. His
first series of paintings were silkscreen images of cans of Campbells soup.
This representation of everyday items was what spurred the pop art movement
then. Warhol was seemingly showing the people how obsessed they were with
consumerism and gave those everyday objects an iconic feel. Aside from the
Campbells Soup Cans, Warhol also used other brands and images like boxes of
Brillo, Coke bottles and even the American dollar bill.
The technique Warhol used, silkscreening,
allowed him to do multiple images and use different colors and variances in the
effect. This is what catapulted Warhol to stardom in the pop art world.
Already gaining recognition for
his work, Andy Warhol then moved on from painting consumer images to
concentrating on subjects which depicted the images of the popular figures in
America in that era. This is when the famous paintings of Marilyn Monore,
Jackie Onassis and Elvis Presley came to be. By that time, Andy Warhol’s
paintings skyrocketed to popularity and he was producing paintings at a fast
pace.
Exhibits of his works were being
done everywhere and even overseas. Every image that he portrayed in his works
became instant icons and he’s paintings was very much in demand. Warhol would soon
use this new fund fame to cross the lines between commercialism and fine art,
for which some people would wholeheartedly accept.
Warhol’s innovation in his works
of art was by no means stagnant. Although he continued to make portraits of
famous figures, moving on to Michael Jackson, Mick Jagger and others, he let go
of his repetitive style that helped start his career. He still produced very
colorful art works and moved on to different subjects that would shock yet
delight the Art world.
Warhol’s paintings though were
not entirely focused on the life of the rich and famous, he also dubbed with
other themes and had some series of paintings as well that dealt with the
social aspect of life. His series the death and disaster used heavily edited photographs
and painted racism, electric chair executions, car accidents and such. Although
these were not as popular nor as well accepted as his other paintings, the
series still is a part of his genuine artistry.
Andy Warhol’s love for his pets
also inspired a series of paintings dubbed as cats and dogs. An animal lover
himself, Warhol painted cats that were photographed by a renowned cat
photographer. And being a dog owner, he had two dogs at the least, he also
produced images of his dogs.
Today, many Andy Warhol
paintings are in great demand and command prices amounting to millions of
dollars. His birthplace in Pennsylvania houses the Andy Warhol Museum and many
collectors from all over the world hang their prized Andy Warhol paintings on
their walls.
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