Andy Warhol seems to have been a strange bird, but a talented and interesting one! After art school, Andy moved to New York City to become an award winning commercial artist and illustrator. A true creative, he became not only an artist, but successfully dabbled in writing, film-making, photography, entrepreneurship, collecting, music production, and magazine publishing. He is most well known for being a key influencer in the Pop Art movement.
Warhol seemingly led two lives, his personal life and his public life, where he wore protective masks and eccentricity. An attempt on his life in 1968 left him with several internal injuries that would impact his health until his death in 1987 – it also seemed to make him much more guarded and in his approach to life. His studio, The factory became a gathering place for all sorts of creatives and celebrities – Andy Warhol was very influential in creating ’15 minute celebrities’ with his works. Big stars flocked to him and he was a regular at Studio 54. He founded and published Interview magazine and commissioned multiple album covers for the likes of the Rolling Stones. Managing and producing The Velvet Underground was his biggest contribution to the 60’s music scene.
“Before I was shot, I always thought that I was more half-there than all-there—I always suspected that I was watching TV instead of living life. People sometimes say that the way things happen in movies is unreal, but actually it’s the way things happen in life that’s unreal. The movies make emotions look so strong and real, whereas when things really do happen to you, it’s like watching television—you don’t feel anything. Right when I was being shot and ever since, I knew that I was watching television. The channels switch, but it’s all television.”
Andy Warhol on being shot and the 1968 assassination attempt
“I met him a couple of times, but we seldom shared more than platitudes. The first time we saw each other an awkward silence fell till he remarked my bright yellow shoes and started talking enthusiastically. He wanted to be very superficial. And seemingly emotionless, indifferent, just like a dead fish. Lou Reed described him most profoundly when he once told me they should bring a doll of Andy on the market: a doll that you wind up and doesn’t do anything. But I managed to observe him well, and that was a helping hand for the film [Basquiat…] We borrowed his clothes from the museum in Pittsburgh, and they were intact, unwashed. Even the pockets weren’t emptied: they contained pancake, white, deadly pale fond de teint which Andy always smeared on his face, a check torn in pieces, someone’s address, lots of homeopathic pills and a wig. Andy always wore those silver wigs, but he never admitted it were wigs. One of his hairdressers has told me lately that he had his wigs regularly cut, like it were real hair. When the wig was trimmed, he put on another next month as if his hair had grown.”
David Bowie on Andy Warhol
- Read more about Andy Warhol’s life and influence on pop culture HERE and HERE
- See more about his legacy and foundation work for the Visual Arts through the Warhol Foundation HERE
- Explore more Andy Warhol’s works at the MoMa and hear about his film making HERE
A Gallery of Warhol’s Work
Volkswagon 
The Last Supper 
Skull 
Triple Elvis 
A Cat Named Sam 
Che Guevara 
Flowers 
The Velvet Underground Album Cover 
Marilyn Monroe
What do you think about Andy Warhol and his collections and films?
We want to hear more about what YOUR favorite artists! Who do you love the most?
We’d love for you to follow us over on Insta at @cfrsart and @positivelycfrs – Or on Facebook at PostivelyCFRS and CFRSArt – Thank you!!
Make it a great day!!
It’s CFRS, Positively!