Andy Warhol “Marylin” circa 1967

“In the future everyone will be world-famous for 15 minutes.”
-Warhol

How can I do an exhibition of Beat Art without Andy Warhol? Andy Warhol is a artist of mass proportions. Multi-talented, and intelligent, this man created a whole classification of art. Pop Art is a classification that combines popular culture and art. Warhol became famous for his depiction of a Campbell’s Soup can, and had a life full of fame and art.
Warhol started his career as a media illustrator working for such publications as Harpers Bazaar. He first became famous for his soup can; however, that was just the tip of the iceberg. His favorite medium to work with was screen printing, and because of this he created a new innovation of commodity of Art. He made art for the masses, and his art is still continuously on shirts and shoulder bags. Warhol’s print of Marilyn Monroe in 1967, five years after her death brought about a lot of coverage. The big deal at the time was that it was 5 years after her untimely death, and Andy brought it all back to the world by creating this piece. Pop art was young in these days, and Andy was one of the only artists producing it. Pop art has developed into what we would call now, Graphic Art. Pop art is prevalent with vivid colors and sharp lines, which Warhol depicted perfectly.
Warhol in his will left his entire estate to financially back a foundation for the visual arts. Appropriately titled, The Andy Warhol Foundation for Visual Arts, this foundation is currently the largest grant generator in the country. His legacy that he has left us with is lasting and still affects us in terms of art.
Andy’s eccentricities and passion for his work is what makes this period in art history rewarding. I don’t think any other artist has paved the way more than Warhol. His art is still popular, and he started a whole type of art himself. If that’s not inspirational than I don’t know what is. Business was art to him, and as an artist it was important to him to make money off of his work, which could be criticized, but his passion for business made him a great artist, and made him a household name. He said it himself, “Business is the highest form of art.”