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Warhol was born Andrew Warhola in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States, to Slovakian immigrants of Ruthenian ethnicity. He showed early artistic talent, and studied commercial art at the Carnegie Institute of Technology (now known as Carnegie Mellon University) in Pittsburgh. Upon graduating in 1949, he relocated to New York City and began a successful career in magazine illustration and advertising. He became well-known mainly for his whimsical ink drawings of shoes done in a loose, blotted style.
In the 1960sCenturies: 19th century 20th century 21st century Decades: 1900s 1910s 1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s Years: 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 Events and trends The 1960s was a turbulent decade of change around, he started to make paintings of famous American products like Campbell's soup cans and Coca-ColaCoca-Cola (also known as Coke is a popular carbonated soft drink sold in stores, restaurants and vending machines in over one hundred and forty countries. It is produced by The Coca-Cola Company, which is also occasionally referred to as Coca-Cola or Coke. He switched to silkscreen prints, seeking not only to make art of mass produced items, but to mass produce the art itself. He hired and supervised "art workers" engaged in making prints, shoes, films, and other items at his studio, The Factory, located on Union SquareUnion Square is an important and historic intersection in New York City. Union Square was located where Broadway and the Bowery Lane came together in the early 19th century. Today it is bound by 14th St. Union Square East, 17th St. and Union Square West. in New York City.
The Factory was Warhol's studio from 1963 to 1969. It was really a factory manufacturing hats before he took possession of it. The Factory was the hip hangout for artsy type, amphetamine users, and the Warhol superstarsThe Warhol superstars were a group of people gathered by Andy Warhol, Paul Morrissey, and Gerard Malanga to be in Warhol's films and accompany him in his social life. The superstars included: Jackie Curtis Candy Darling Ultra Violet Ingrid Superstar Viva. This is where Warhol would make his silkscreens. It was covered with tin foil, silver "clouds" on the ceiling.
The Factory became a meeting place of artists and would-be artists such as Mick JaggerSir Michael "Mick" Philip Jagger is a British rock musician, actor, writer, composer, record and film producer and businessman. He is most famous for being the lead singer and co-founder (with guitarist Brian Jones) of the British rock and roll band The R, Lou ReedLou Reed (born Lewis Allen Reed on March 2, 1942), the rock'n'roll singer-songwriter, has had a lasting musical influence on punk rock and alternative rock. Reed has toured and recorded almost continuously since 1965. He lives in New York City. Reed was b, and Truman Capote. Warhol became the manager of the influential New York rock band The Velvet Underground in 1965.
On June 3, 1968, Valerie Solanas, a Factory regular, entered Warhol's studio and fired three shots, nearly killing him. Although the first two rounds missed, the third passed through Warhol's left lung, spleen, stomach, liver, esophagus, and right lung. Solanas then turned the gun on a companion of Warhol, injuring his thigh. Although Warhol survived these injuries, he never fully recovered. Solanas later explained that "he had too much control over my life." The story of Valerie Solonas was made into a movie starring Lili Taylor and directed by Mary Harron.
Although Lou Reed, a friend of Andy's, was less forgiving, Mr. Warhol himself ultimately forgave Valerie for shooting him and later satirized the whole event in a subsequent movie of his, calling a similar group P.I.G. - politically involved girlies.
In the 1970s and 1980s he mainly made prints of famous people such as Marilyn Monroe and Elvis Presley.
Besides his influence as a painter, Warhol was known as a highly proficient filmmaker. Between 1963 and 1968, he made more than sixty films. His most famous one, Sleep ( 1963), shows a man ( John Giorno , who had a relationship with Warhol) sleeping for eight hours. In the 35 minute film Blow Job (1963), he shows the face of a man receiving fellatio. Warhol's character has also been represented in several motion pictures. He has been portrayed by Crispin Glover, David Bowie, and Jared Harris, in The Doors, Basquiat, and I Shot Andy Warhol, respectively.
Warhol created the fashion magazine Interview that is still published today. The loopy title script on the cover is thought to be either his own handwriting or his mother's, who would often do text work for his early commercial pieces.
Warhol used to socialize at Serendipity, a club in New York City.
One of Warhol's favorite pop bands was Blondie.
The Andy Warhol Museum is located in the North Shore district of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It is the largest American art museum dedicated to a single artist.
Warhol was generally regarded as quiet and a meticulous observer. More than one person jokingly referred to him as "death warmed over." He had a keen eye for art in general and is credited with crystallizing the deceptively simple notion that if you simply point at something and call it "art," it is. He was openly gay, rare for celebrities of his stature at the time, and paid tribute to many male friends and workers in his private art and collections. An organized collector, he tossed almost every piece of paper, fan mail and magazine related to his fame along with personal notes, (gay) porn, and found artifacts into hundreds of numbered boxes and set them aside. Many of these exist today and are available for research at his Pittsburgh museum.
A kind person at heart, he would regularly volunteer at the homeless shelters in New York, particularly during the busier times of the year (holidays, etc.), when he found the time.
Warhol died in New York City following routine gall bladder surgery. He was only 58 years old. He is interred at St. John the Baptist Catholic Cemetery south of Pittsburgh. Fellow artist Yoko Ono was among the speakers at his funeral.