Andy Warhol

Andy Warhol - Pop Artist, Facts and Family

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Andy Warhol Biography Stories 

Andy Warhol's Personal Details

Andy Warhol was a famous American illustrator

InformationDetail
BirthdayAugust 6, 1928
Died onFebruary 22, 1987
NationalityAmerican
FamousCarnegie Mellon University, Artists, Film & Theater Personalities, Directors, Miscellaneous, INFP, Pop Artist
SiblingsJohn, Paul
Known asAndrew Warhola
Universities
  • Carnegie Mellon University
  • Carnegie Institute of Technology
Notable Alumnis
  • Carnegie Mellon University
Birth PlacePittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
ReligionEastern Orthodox
Diseases DisabilitiesAutism
GenderMale
FatherAndrij Warhola
MotherJúlia
Sun SignLeo
Born inPittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
Famous asPop Artist
Died at Age58

Andy Warhol's photo

Who is Andy Warhol?

Andy Warhol is a name that revolutionized art in the United States of America during the 20th century. While the world was already familiar with art forms such as painting, Andy introduced a new concept named ‘Pop Art’. His illustrations for various brands garnered a lot of appreciation from the public. However, he was also criticized by many for commercializing art. Few of his famous works are the designs made for the world famous beverage ‘Coca Cola’, and ‘Campbell Soup’. Without merely sticking to his paintings, Warhol ventured into cinema too. Of the 60 movies that he directed, most of them were considered offbeat and unconventional. Warhol continues to be a well-known man in art circles even today. He started a couple of institutions to keep the art form alive. Many of his creative works, in the past, have been displayed in various exhibitions across America. He has been a great source of inspiration for many American youth to explore their creativity, and turn towards art. The ‘Andy Warhol’ museum located in Pittsburgh speaks volumes about America’s love and admiration for this great artist.

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Childhood & Early Life

Andy Warhol was born on August 6, 1928 to Julia and Andrej Warhola, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He was the youngest child born to the couple. Andy had two elder brothers Paul and John Warhola.

Andy was plagued by various health disorders during his childhood such as ‘Sydenham's chorea’ and ‘Scarlet Fever’. Since he was frequently diagnosed for ailments, Andy started developing a sense of fear towards hospitals and doctors.

Unlike most kids his age, Andy was a loner and didn’t have many friends. The reason was his absence from his school due to his poor health.

Andy was bedridden for a major part of his childhood. His parents and brothers often used to entertain Andy at home. He credits this turbulent period of his childhood for shaping up his personality.

After all the struggle, Andy finally managed to graduate from the ‘Schenley High School’ in 1945. He later moved to the ‘Carnegie Institute of Technology’ to pursue a Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts. Andy specialized in Pictorial Design during this 4-year course.

Career

Andy relocated to New York almost immediately after completing his degree, in 1949. He started his career in advertising and magazine illustration. His ink drawings for various shoe advertisements garnered a lot of attention within New York’s advertising circles.

The growing reputation of Andy Warhol grabbed the eyes of the music label ‘RCA Records’. Andy and few other artists were hired the music label to design the covers of the various albums produced by it. He was one of the very few artists to adopt the ‘Silk Screen’ printmaking process in the 1950’s decade.

Andy, who had earned enough money by 1960 through his advertisement commitments, purchased a 4-storeyed building, so that he could experiment his art on the walls of the dwelling. This unfinished, unconventional look helped him receive a lot of appreciation.

During the 1960’s Andy made iconic illustrations for a variety of objects such as, electric chairs, ‘Campbell’s Soup Cans’, and Coca-Cola bottles. He als painted famous celebrities like Elvis Presley, Marilyn Monroe, Marlon Brando, and Elizabeth Taylor.

Andy founded his own studio named ‘The Factory’ in New York during this time. Many artists, such as writers and musicians, joined hands with Andy, to become a part of his new initiative.

After working as an illustrator for more than a decade, Andy ventured into filmmaking in 1963. In a span of 5 years, he made around 60 films. Noteworthy works amongst these are ‘Sleep’, ‘Blow Job’, ‘Empire’, and ‘Eat’.

The 1970s was a sober decade for Andy Warhol, since his work didn’t make noises the way it did in the previous decades. However, he managed to earn many influential patrons during this period. Few of these famous names include John Lennon, Diana Ross, Mick Jagger, and ‘The Shah of Iran’ Mohammad Reza Pahlavi.

In 1973, he created a portrait of the Chinese Communist leader Mao Zedong, which went on to become a world renowned piece of art. Six years later, Andy, along with close friend Stuart Pavar, founded the ‘New York Academy of Art’

Andy was hired by automobile giant ‘BMW’ in 1979 to paint their supercar ‘BMW M1’. Andy was the best choice the company had made, since he decided to paint on a practice model, rather than directly experiment on the full scale product.

In 1980, Andy exhibited 10 of his portraits at the Jewish Museum in New York. This collection was named ‘The Jewish Geniuses’.

In 1984, he was hired by famous painter/illustrator Alexander Lolas to work on a painting exhibition, which was to be held at Milan. Andy was asked by Lolas to produce something similar to Leonardo Da Vinci’s masterpiece ‘The Last Supper’.

Major Works

Though Andy worked on numerous print advertisements for various products, he is well known for his films. His most noted celluloid work is the 1966 experimental film, ‘Chelsea Girls’. The movie was his first commercial success. ‘Chelsea Girls’ was also known for its unconventional ‘Split-screen’ visuals, which went on to become a trend-setter.

Awards & Achievements

The U.S Postal Service issued an 18-inch stamp in 2002, as a tribute to Andy Warhol’s achievements.

A few years after his death, the ‘Andy Warhol Museum’ was opened in Pittsburgh, in honour of the artist. A whopping $12 million was spent to keep the artist’s works alive.

Personal Life & Legacy

Andy lost his father at the age of 13, at a time when he was already going through a lot of turmoil because of his health conditions. He was quite attached to his mother since a young age, and often called himself a ‘Mama’s Boy’.

He was raised as a ‘Ruthenian Catholic’ by his parents, and continued being religious even during the later years of his life.

In 1968, radical feminist Valerie Solanas tried assassinating Andy Warhol, but the attempt backfired. Soranos was a member of Andy’s organization ‘The Factory’. The assassination almost killed Andy, but he narrowly escaped death. The shooting made a great negative impact on Andy for the rest of his life.

Andy Warhol was gay. His attempt to exhibit few of his nude male paintings at a fine art gallery failed, since the organizers felt that the paintings were too erotic and explicit.

Warhol succumbed to ‘Cardiac Arrhythmia’ on February 22, 1987, in a New York hospital, at the age of 59. A few days before his death, Warhol had undergone a Gallbladder surgery. His body was cremated in Pittsburgh by his brothers. Andy’s family sued the hospital authorities for their negligence, which supposedly caused the death.

Trivia

Andy Warhol has been a subject of great curiosity for filmmakers. His life has been a source of inspiration for documentaries such as ‘Absolut Warhola’, ‘Andy Warhol: A Documentary Film’, and ‘Andy Warhol: Double Denied’.

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Andy Warhol biography timelines

  • // 6th Aug 1928
    Andy Warhol was born on August 6, 1928 to Julia and Andrej Warhola, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He was the youngest child born to the couple. Andy had two elder brothers Paul and John Warhola.
  • // 1945
    After all the struggle, Andy finally managed to graduate from the ‘Schenley High School’ in 1945. He later moved to the ‘Carnegie Institute of Technology’ to pursue a Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts. Andy specialized in Pictorial Design during this 4-year course.
  • // 1949
    Andy relocated to New York almost immediately after completing his degree, in 1949. He started his career in advertising and magazine illustration. His ink drawings for various shoe advertisements garnered a lot of attention within New York’s advertising circles.
  • // 1950
    The growing reputation of Andy Warhol grabbed the eyes of the music label ‘RCA Records’. Andy and few other artists were hired the music label to design the covers of the various albums produced by it. He was one of the very few artists to adopt the ‘Silk Screen’ printmaking process in the 1950’s decade.
  • // 1960
    Andy, who had earned enough money by 1960 through his advertisement commitments, purchased a 4-storeyed building, so that he could experiment his art on the walls of the dwelling. This unfinished, unconventional look helped him receive a lot of appreciation.
  • // 1963
    After working as an illustrator for more than a decade, Andy ventured into filmmaking in 1963. In a span of 5 years, he made around 60 films. Noteworthy works amongst these are ‘Sleep’, ‘Blow Job’, ‘Empire’, and ‘Eat’.
  • // 1966
    Though Andy worked on numerous print advertisements for various products, he is well known for his films. His most noted celluloid work is the 1966 experimental film, ‘Chelsea Girls’. The movie was his first commercial success. ‘Chelsea Girls’ was also known for its unconventional ‘Split-screen’ visuals, which went on to become a trend-setter.
  • // 1968
    In 1968, radical feminist Valerie Solanas tried assassinating Andy Warhol, but the attempt backfired. Soranos was a member of Andy’s organization ‘The Factory’. The assassination almost killed Andy, but he narrowly escaped death. The shooting made a great negative impact on Andy for the rest of his life.
  • // 1973
    In 1973, he created a portrait of the Chinese Communist leader Mao Zedong, which went on to become a world renowned piece of art. Six years later, Andy, along with close friend Stuart Pavar, founded the ‘New York Academy of Art’
  • // 1979
    Andy was hired by automobile giant ‘BMW’ in 1979 to paint their supercar ‘BMW M1’. Andy was the best choice the company had made, since he decided to paint on a practice model, rather than directly experiment on the full scale product.
  • // 1980
    In 1980, Andy exhibited 10 of his portraits at the Jewish Museum in New York. This collection was named ‘The Jewish Geniuses’.
  • // 1984
    In 1984, he was hired by famous painter/illustrator Alexander Lolas to work on a painting exhibition, which was to be held at Milan. Andy was asked by Lolas to produce something similar to Leonardo Da Vinci’s masterpiece ‘The Last Supper’.
  • // 22nd Feb 1987
    Warhol succumbed to ‘Cardiac Arrhythmia’ on February 22, 1987, in a New York hospital, at the age of 59. A few days before his death, Warhol had undergone a Gallbladder surgery. His body was cremated in Pittsburgh by his brothers. Andy’s family sued the hospital authorities for their negligence, which supposedly caused the death.

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Andy Warhol's FAQ

  • What is Andy Warhol birthday?

    Andy Warhol was born at 1928-08-06

  • When was Andy Warhol died?

    Andy Warhol was died at 1987-02-22

  • Where was Andy Warhol died?

    Andy Warhol was died in New York City, U.S.

  • Which age was Andy Warhol died?

    Andy Warhol was died at age 58

  • Where is Andy Warhol's birth place?

    Andy Warhol was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States

  • What is Andy Warhol nationalities?

    Andy Warhol's nationalities is American

  • Who is Andy Warhol siblings?

    Andy Warhol's siblings is John, Paul

  • What was Andy Warhol universities?

    Andy Warhol studied at Carnegie Mellon University, Carnegie Institute of Technology

  • What was Andy Warhol notable alumnis?

    Andy Warhol's notable alumnis is Carnegie Mellon University

  • What is Andy Warhol's religion?

    Andy Warhol's religion is Eastern Orthodox

  • Who is Andy Warhol's father?

    Andy Warhol's father is Andrij Warhola

  • Who is Andy Warhol's mother?

    Andy Warhol's mother is Júlia

  • What is Andy Warhol's sun sign?

    Andy Warhol is Leo

  • How famous is Andy Warhol?

    Andy Warhol is famouse as Pop Artist