Andy Warhol … and pop art
If we delve into pop art, we need to know Andy Warhol, this being the most prominent figure of the movement. After a successful career as an illustrator for magazines and advertising, Warhol became famous worldwide for his work as avant-garde painter and filmmaker. As a public figure is remembered for having been involved in many different social circles, even antagonistic, as the bohemian New York, renowned intellectuals, Hollywood celebrities and wealthy aristocrats. It was a controversial figure during his lifetime, some critics called his work as pretentious or jokes. During the 60s, Warhol would begin to paint pictures of famous American products such as his famous Campbell soup cans in 1962 and dedicated to Coca-Cola bottles. Also portray popular characters of the era such as Marilyn Monroe, Elizabeth Taylor, Jacqueline Kennedy, or Troy Donahue. In 1963 he founded his famous studio The Factory, gathering around him to a wide range of artists, musicians, writers and familiar characters from the underground New York. Shortly later serigraphs begin making series, which sought not only to make art that reflected serial products, but mass produce the art itself. With this, Warhol intended to act as a machine, minimizing the role of their own creative ideas to produce their work. It was thus revolutionized the art world and his work became so popular and controversial. Warhol never hid his homosexuality, as can be seen in The Warhol Diaries, “which claims to have had affairs with several men. The 70’s, and especially the 80s, involving the consecration as the star of Warhol’s art. His style is groundbreaking initially treated by the circuit of galleries and wealthy circles, who met through commissioned portraits. This stage is judged unevenly by current criticism. It is also at this time when he was hired by several automakers to paint their vehicles in a competition that might draw attention. Thus was created the art car. At that time, producing abundant Warhol portraits of celebrities and tycoons, not just acquaintances or people of his circle, but also designers, entrepreneurs and other wealthy people, which for large sums pose for Warhol. Among them, the designer Valentino.As he himself says, he once traveled to Europe to take Polaroids of German businessmen, and elaborated on the basis of such photographs portraits.
Comments are closed.