Andy Warhol: Pop Art Philosopher (10 Things)

Tonic Pop

Andy Warhol

Andy Warhol, the great American pop artist, was born Andrew Warhola on Monday, August 6, 1928 in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania to Czechoslovakian immigrants. He was the youngest of 3 children, 1 of who died before his parents made it to the USA. He was very tight with his Mum Julia. She moved to New York in 1952 to live with Andy and stayed with him until a year before her death in 1971. By those who knew him best it is said that she was his greatest inspiration.

Andy died on February 6th 1987 Warhol died of cardiac arrest suffered after gallbladder surgery.

His career was built off blatant, overt appropriation of famous imagery and products. He was a fan of using bright and primary colors in his art and he loved giving pop vibes to what many might consider mundane objects, or the experiences of everyday consumer existence, like some of his more well-known works like Campbell soup cans, Coke bottles or Marilyn Monroe. His design work for a variety of music albums also kept him squarely in the realm of celebrity.

His time in the spotlight was a time when pop art was exploding and he found himself at the forefront of its march. His art is philosophical and his philosophies are artistic. His works were and are intimately connected to American culture. He was considered to be a mirror of his times and even when he was accused of becoming too commercial he was acutely aware of his standing and unrepentant of his reasonings. He loved the Hollywood glam and once said: "I love Los Angeles. I love Hollywood. They're so beautiful. Everything's plastic, but I love plastic. I want to be plastic."