During the European Renaissance in the 1700s, “art” would ideally be oil paintings of landscapes, still life, Christian iconography or portraits. Including advertising posters of a soup can or Brillo box would be considered unorthodox. This is exactly what Andy Warhol, did by making popular art or “Pop Art.” He changed what people perceive as “art.”
“When people are ready to, they change. They never do it before then, and sometimes they die before they get around to it. You can’t make them change if they don’t want to, just like when they do want to, you can’t stop them.”
But that is just it, anything with expression and aesthetic value can be considered art. Andy Warhol who was an artist, illustrator, printmaker, producer and advertiser saw artistic value in the poster advertisements he made.
“Art is anything you can get away with.”
Andy Warhol’s famous works include Campbell’s Soup Cans, Shot Marilyns, Coca-Cola Print, Orange Prince and the Brillo Box among others. His artworks added immense value to the Pop Art and Modern Art genre along with his contemporaries like Richard Hamilton, David Hockney and Roy Lichtenstein. On many occasions, art critics did not see merit in his style and undervalued his work. Despite this, Warhol’s style persisted, leading to the creation of some of his most popular works.
“Sometimes people let the same problem make them miserable for years when they could just say, So what. That’s one of my favourite things to say. So what.”
Warhol emphasised more on his work than on the setbacks he faced in his professional career.
“Don’t think about making art, just get it done. Let everyone else decide if it’s good or bad, whether they love it or hate it. While they are deciding, make even more art.”
Warhol’s artworks were quite ahead of their time. Pop Art or Popular Art is when a mass culture or famous icons become the subject of the artwork. Loud colours, strong outlines, bold shadows and the use of illustrations made these artworks edgy and eye-catching. Nevertheless, Warhol wondered if his pieces would stand the test of time or if they would only have their “15 minutes of fame” just like some celebrities and cultural phenomena he experienced in the entertainment industry.
“I’m afraid that if you look at a thing long enough, it loses all of its meaning.”
And yet, Andy Warhol’s collection of artworks are timeless classics today. Arguably, his work is still “popular” you could say.
Andy Warhol’s life and art are a testament to the transformative power of creativity. Through stories about his early years, his breakthrough with pop art, and his fascination with celebrity culture, we gain a deeper understanding of the artist who brought everyday objects and famous faces into the realm of high art. Warhol’s legacy lives on, as a reminder that art can be found in the mundane and that the boundaries of creativity are limitless. His colourful canvas continues to inspire, provoke thought, and challenge the way we view the world. Andy Warhol, the pioneer of pop art, remains an enduring icon in the pantheon of modern art.
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