In 1962, Andy Warhol's paintings of cans of Campbell's soup were exhibited for the first time at the Ferus Gallery in Los Angeles. They looked like 32 individual paintings, each of which was a picture of a can of one of the flavors of Campbell's soup line. The gallery owners cleverly hung them on the wall in the form horizontal line, supported by a white shelf underneath, as if the jars were in a grocery store. At first glance, all 32 banks look the same, but in fact they are all different. If you get closer, you can see that the strokes on each canvas are different. And if you look even more closely, it turns out that after several images, the design of the label changes.
2. In 1985, Andy Warhol created a silk-screened painting of a Barbie doll.
As Warhol himself described this case in his diaries, which were published after her death, he hated this work. He felt extremely embarrassed when he had to officially present this picture to the president of Mattel (the company that invented and produced the Barbie doll).
3. David Bowie dedicated a song to Andy Warhol
At one of the first significant studio albums David Bowie"Hunky Dory", which was released in 1971, has a song dedicated to famous artist. It's called "Andy Warhol". In 1996, Bowie played the role of Warhol in feature film"Basquiat".
4. Illustrations for children's books
Andy Warhol is one of only 7 artists in the world whose artworks have sold over $100 million. But did you know that you can become the owner of his works and spend only 5 dollars? That is how much one of the second-hand copies of a children's book, which he illustrated in the late 50s, collaborating with the publishing house as a freelancer, is worth. Before Warhol got to the top of the art world, he illustrated 6 children's stories, some of which were "The Little Red Hen" and "The Merry Card Game".
5. One of Andy Warhol's most expensive collections, hidden for 40 years
Only a few years ago, the collection of masterpieces of Western contemporary art, which had lain in the vaults of the Tehran Museum of Modern Art for 40 years, was presented to the world. This collection was created by the Shah of Iran, Mohammed Reza Pahlavi, not long before the 1979 revolution. This collection is the largest of all outside Europe and North America collections of contemporary Western masterpieces. Including, there are 15 works by Andy Warhol. Among them are portraits of Mick Jagger, Marilyn Monroe, Mao Tse Tung. For 40 years, the museum's collection, which is estimated at $ 3 billion, was hidden from prying eyes in basements, as the leaders of the country considered many of the works to be symbols of decadence and intemperance.
The most valuable work of Warhol, located in this collection, is a painting depicting a man falling from the roof of a house.
6. Love for cats
It is known that Andy Warhol loved to draw cats. He generally loved them. While not yet world famous, in 1954, he published the first illustrated book, which was called "25 cats named Sam and one blue cat". True, there are actually only 16 cats there for some reason, but there is a blue cat there, as stated in the title. Look how wonderful cats he has, although they are rather unusual.
Andy Warhole - cult person for the entire world of contemporary art. He ranks first in the list of best-selling artists. Some of his works are sold at auctions for more than, for example, the work of Pablo Picasso. We present to your attention a selection of his works, sold for record amounts.
1. Silver Car Crash (Double Crash) (1963) - $105.4 million
Warhol's work from the famous 1963 large-scale Death and Disaster series. In November 2013, it was sold at Sotheby's in New York for record amount at $105,445,000, the second largest ever paid for a piece of contemporary art in history.
2. Eight Elvises (1963) - $100 million
In October 2008, Warhol's "Eight Elvises" was sold in private collection at a price of $ 100 million, which was at that time a record for his work.
3. "Turquoise Marilyn" (1964) - $ 80 million
In May 2007, the painting, one of several portraits of Marilyn Monroe by Andy Warhol, was purchased by collector Stephen A. Cohen for an estimated price of $80 million.
4. "Green Car Crash (Burning Green Car 1)" (1963) - $71.7 million
In May 2007, this painting was sold at Christie's in New York for $71.7 million to collector Philip Niarkos, son of Greek shipowner Stavros Niarkos.
5. The Men in Her Life (1962) - $63.4 million
In 2010, a black and white image of Elizabeth Taylor with her third husband Mike Todd and future husband Eddie Fisher was sold to an anonymous buyer at a New York auction by Phillips de Pury & Co for $63.4 million.
6. "Coca-Cola" (1962) - $ 57.2 million
This big size the work was drawn by Andy Warhol by hand. Sold at Christie's in New York for $57,285,000 in November 2013.
7. Two Hundred One Dollar Bills (1962) - $43.8 million
In November 2009, the painting was sold at Sotheby's to an anonymous buyer for $43.8 million. Its previous owner was London-based collector Pauline Karpidas, who bought the work in 1986 for only $385,000.
8. Statue of Liberty (1962) - $43.7 million
In November 2012, a large silkscreen depicting the famous American monument was sold at Christie's in New York for $43,762,500.
9 Big Coke - $35.36 million
The painting was sold in November 2010 at Sotheby's in New York for $35.36 million. The work was acquired by a hedge fund manager, Steve Cohen.
10 Self Portrait (1986) - $32.5 million
In May 2010, a large self-portrait of Andy Warhol, painted in 1986, just a year before his death, was sold at Sotheby's in New York for $32.56 million.
Considered one of America's most famous artists. But ordinary people I was attracted not so much by his work as by his lifestyle. Scandals, bold statements in the press. All this worked for the image of the king of pop art. It seemed that he was born and raised in this environment, where the eternal atmosphere of the holiday reigned, and new stars lit up every day.
Childhood and youth years of the future celebrity
Only a few knew that about twenty years ago, Andy Warhol, whose paintings became insanely popular, was a completely different person. He was born in industrial Pittsburgh in 1928 to a simple family of emigrants from Slovakia. And he often wondered why life was so unfair to him. Someone bathes in luxury, and he has to wear clothes for his older brothers. After all, he is no worse than the children of the rich. Moreover, nature rewarded him with talent. He was great at drawing.
In one thousand nine hundred and forty-seven future artist Andy Warhol entered Technical University at the Faculty of Design. His parents gave all their savings to his education. Andy was just happy. He finally got into a creative atmosphere.
Moreover, many fellow students and teachers admired the talent that Andy Warhol possessed. His works were full of energy, they literally breathed life. And no one guessed that this capable guy had far-reaching plans. He wanted not just to draw, but to earn huge money from it.
The beginning of creative activity
Immediately after graduating from university in 1949, Andy moves to New York. It was a city in which, as he believed, everyone could become a star. And the first thing he did was buy a white elegant suit and set about looking for a job. Andy Warhol fulfilled all the orders he received with talent and on time. And all his leaders were very pleased with him.
Suddenly modest youth found another unique quality. He better than many artists captured the conjuncture of the market. And I intuitively felt how to present an advertising image talentedly and beautifully.
His first professional job was to create illustrations for the article "Success". It was a job for Glamor magazine. A year later, he made an anti-drug poster for a little-known youth show about youth issues, which immediately rose in popularity, and the poster itself was recognized as the best advertisement of the year.
Complete image change
Andy's fees skyrocketed. But he wanted fame, public recognition and secular life. Then Andy Warhol, whose paintings are rightfully considered the best in pop art today, decides to completely change his image and style of work.
Now he did not miss a single fashion party. Soon he becomes his own among the bohemian public. He was considered a funny guy serving big hopes artist. But Warhol didn't like it. There were many like him, but he wanted to be the only one.
The emergence of a new direction in art
At this time, pop art began to emerge in America. A direction where anything could become an object for painting. Newspaper clippings, flashy advertisements or cartoon characters. Andy was never afraid to experiment. And he began to work in this direction.
In 1952, New York hosted its first personal exhibition. But she was not successful. Andy did not despair. He continued to look for new images and techniques, tried new color combinations and continued to attend numerous parties.
In 1962, another exhibition of works created by Andy Warhol opened in Los Angeles. The paintings on it puzzled many who came to the audience. The displays were reminiscent of supermarket shelves. Paintings hung on the walls with images of Coca-Cola, dollars, cans of soups. And repeated over and over again.
But shock was quickly replaced by delight. It was exactly what everyone was waiting for. Glossy product labels, American beauty. Oddly enough, but before Andy Warhol, it never occurred to anyone to portray what millions of Americans bowed to: the world of money and things.
Birth of a new king
So just a few hours out of few people famous artist advertising, albeit earning about one hundred and fifty thousand a year, Andy Warhol, whose paintings made a splash, turned into the king of pop art.
Right at the exhibition, he was asked what he intended to paint now. And Andy, without hesitation, replied that perhaps even No drew Marilyn Monroe. He chose acid inks for printing.
Famous paintings by Andy Warhol. Photo images
The image of the actress turned out to be strange. Lemon hair, and brightly painted lips. No one has ever drawn the main sex symbol of Hollywood in this way. After all, everyone is used to considering her a beautiful empty doll. In fact, she was a deeply unhappy woman. The artist once again subtly captured the mood of millions.
After her death, Monroe became an idol. And all the items that display the image have become insanely popular, including this work - a picture of Marilyn Monroe. Andy Warhol was inspired by this idea, and he, having decided that he was moving in right direction, created a whole series of portraits of the idols of the sixties: the king of rock and roll Elvis Presley, actress Elizabeth Taylor, boxer and many other stars. People have become images.
Thousands of new portraits
He never forced his models to pose. Why spend long hours in the workshop if you have a Polaroid? Andy completely abandoned oil paints. What's the point when there is silkscreen. The face made with this technique came out perfect. No wrinkles, no pimples, no Just the way the townsfolk like it.
In addition, with the help of this technique, it was possible to make not one portrait, but hundreds and even thousands. Portraits of Andy Warhol began to enjoy incredible popularity. And he did not hide the fact that he had a new goal in front of him. He wanted to put modern Art to the conveyor. And in 1963 he opened his own factory.
Building your own factory
This room, painted in silver, was at the same time a club, apartments and a workshop. Artists, musicians, directors and just bright personalities. Someone danced, sang, others just discussed last news while Andy was creating. True, the lion's share of the work was performed by assistants. Stencils were cut out, paint was poured into them. Warhol only led the process.
He did not invite anyone to his factory. They came there themselves and were happy if they could be of any use to Andy Warhol. Surrounding yourself strange people, he drew his inspiration from this atmosphere.
One day, this tireless seeker of new ideas comes up with the idea to film his sleeping friend on camera. After viewing the resulting material, Andy decides to make a movie. From that day on, filming at the factory went on continuously.
creative lull
And the seventies became for Warhol years of calm. He made portraits for wealthy clients and portrayed new idols: Liza Minnelli, Diana Ross, John Lennon and other stars. He continued to be the highest paid artist. They called him a legend.
Personal exhibitions of Andy Warhol were held in Italy, France, Holland. And in 1975 he even visited Moscow, where a collection of expositions of contemporary art was opened.
August 6th would have been Andy Warhol's 88th birthday. Over the course of 37 years of his career, the son of Rusyn migrants from Slovakia, Andriy Vargola, has turned art into a part of the consumption system, showing that any thing can become an art object.
The picture was created in hot pursuit - after the death of the actress. Warhol brought together two canvases - five dozen carelessly painted portraits taken from a photo of Monroe on the set of the film "Niagara", and another one of the same, only graphic, in black and white. Made using the silkscreen technique, "Marilyn" has become one of the main tools for turning the actress into a posthumous cult. Nine years ago, the painting was bought for $ 80 million, at the beginning of the decade, the canvas appeared in British gallery Tate.
In the same year that the Marilyn Diptych was made, Warhol took up his favorite food - Campbell's soups. He began to record cans of soup in large quantities, explaining that he works with what he personally likes. Most famous variant, a large can with a can opener, went at auction for $ 24 million - this happened after the death of the artist. Surely Andy would be very surprised at such a price, since he himself sold paintings with cans of $ 100.
On June 3, 1968, Valerie Solanas, who previously worked with Warhol as an actress, appeared at his "Factory" and fired three bullets into his stomach. survived clinical death Andy, however, did not testify against Solanas. Very afraid of pain, illness and death, and at the same time very interested in these topics, after the assassination attempt, the artist almost completely focused on them. "Pistol", created a decade and a half after the incident, shows a copy of the weapon from which Solanas fired. Perhaps Warhol was trying to face fear in this way.
Warhol in the second half of the 60s became the producer of the Velvet Underground. Producing consisted of PR - promotion of information about the group among the right people and media. Warhol made the main contribution to the Lou Reed team by drawing the cover debut album. Banana, Andy's signature, three words - Peel slowly and see - the album sleeve looked great. At first, in the first pressing of the disc, the Velvet Underground were conceptual with might and main, offering to pick the same yellow banana glued on the envelope in order to find another one under it - pink and peeled.
Most of all Andy, according to him own confession loved money. It would be strange if Warhol did not transfer this love to the canvas. In the process of creating the picture, Andy used to print his drawings of banknotes on tracing paper, under which he placed one and two dollar bills. 47 years later, in 2009, "200 one-dollar bills" became a lot at Sotheby's auction in New York. The auctioneers planned that the painting would go for a maximum of $ 12 million, but were, to put it mildly, pleasantly surprised when demand dispersed the price of the lot to $ 43.7 million. "Art is a profit if it sells well," Andy argued.He was right, it seems.
Made 15 years before the death of the King of Rock and Roll, the painting is the most expensive work of the artist. In 2008, it was put up for auction by the Italian collector Annibale Berlinghieri and received $ 100 million, so the face of Elvis, replicated and painted in silver, became the embodiment of Andy's dream, who wanted the maximum price for his work.
