The real name of the famous and odious American designer, artist and director, founder of pop art Andy Warhol - Andrei Vargola. He was born in 1928 in Pittsburgh into a family of emigrant Rusyns from the village of Mikove (at that time Slovakia, and now Ukrainian Transcarpathia). After the First World War, his family decided to find the best share in the New World - in the USA. During his studies, Andrei Vargola Americanized his name and became Andy Warhol. Being already a great master of pop art, he proved that any thing can become an object of art.
The most impressive paintings by Andy Warhol:
1
Diptych Marilyn (1962)
The death of Marilyn Monroe defeated Andy Warhol. Diptych was created almost immediately after the sudden death of the actress. Each canvas of the diptych depicts fifty identical images of Marilyn, based on which was taken from the filming of the film "Niagara". One diptych consists of color portraits, the second of melting and disappearing black and white portraits, as a symbol of death and the disappearance of a beautiful image from being. Technique of work - silk-screen printing, the invention of the author. The diptych "Marilyn" became a cult. It was sold for $ 80 million and is now in the British Tate Gallery.
2
Cans of Campbell Soup (1962)
Following the famous diptych “Marilyn”, Warhol created an iconic work on the theme of food with the strange name “Campbell Soups”. First of all, Warhol suggested that the viewer think about the facelessness of ordinary consumer goods. This new idea was called "pop art." She insists that absolutely any object can become an object of art that is understandable to every person.
Images of cans with tomato rice soup (Andy Warhol adored him), began to "stamp" in large quantities. A total of 32 screenprints (51 × 41 cm) were created. The most expensive canister with an opener went for $ 24 million immediately after the death of a meter of pop art. During his lifetime, Andy Warhol sold these paintings for a hundred dollars apiece. Then he could not imagine how the image of an ordinary soup would be popular and in demand.
3
200 one-dollar bills (1962)
This famous money rain on canvas was a symbol of a great love of money. Who doesn't love them? Andy Warhol portrayed everything that he adored or loved. The artist translated $ 1–2 dollar bills into tracing paper and then used them to print on canvas. In 2009, this picture left the auction for a record high amount. The initial value of the lot was announced in the amount of 12 million, and the painting was sold for $ 43.7 million. At one time, Andy was absolutely right when he said that art is a profit, and it sells well.
By the way, on our site most-beauty.ru there is an interesting article about the most beautiful banknotes in the world.
4
Eight Elvis (1963)
It may seem to some that the picture depicts only a multiple photographic image of the famous singer. But the editors of most-beauty draws your attention to the fact that in this picture there is a subtle philosophical subtext. Each image of Elvis is a print, and each subsequent such print was superimposed on the previous one. Gradually they are layered and assembled on the right side of the picture. Everyone knows that the life of Elvis Presley, a cult singer, ended in the prime of life from drug use. This picture is a reflection on the fear of death, lifestyle, fame and oblivion of even the most prominent contemporaries. For the picture, Warhol took a shot from the film in which the young singer was shot. The original version of the picture assumed 16 images, but Andy Warhol left only 8, creating a parallel double and triple Elvis. In 2009, Eight Elvis went to a mystery shopper for $ 100 million.
5
Turquoise Marilyn (1964)
Not a single significant star of our time escaped Andy Warhol. Marilyn Monroe is a symbol of femininity and beauty of all time. Andy has replicated her image many times, but one of the successful images is Turquoise Marilyn. Bright yellow hair, a languid look, turquoise shadows, ajar mouth, bright lipstick on the lips, a inviting mole on the face - the desired image of a woman goddess for most men. Today this picture is perceived quite differently than in the late 1960s, as the modern audience knows how complicated the actress’s creative and personal life was, how many mental anguish she experienced, and how tragic her end was. This image was dubbed the original Gioconda of the XX century. In 2007, this portrait went for $ 80 million.
6
Banana (1967)
The painting "Banana" has become one of the most common images in world trade. A bright yellow banana, with characteristic changes on the peel, as if it had just been torn from a ripe banana bunch. This image can be found on T-shirts, trinkets, cups and other household items. It is often used in their work by photographers and artists.
In 1967, Warhol produced Velvet Underground, and decided to help them with their first album. The group enjoyed scandalous fame because of its repertoire. At first, the banana was glued on top of another, peeled and with a clear hint in the accompanying text, "Slowly peel and look." This scandalous symbol has become the most recognizable not only among music discs. That's the whole Andy Warhol. From a simple object, he created an epic symbol, securing a special subtext for it.
7
Mao (1973)
Andy Warhol portrayed famous personalities around the world. From Elizabeth II to Lenin. He loved portraying politicians, including Mao Zedong. The same image of Mao is replicated in different colors. Red Mao went under the hammer for $ 12 million to an anonymous Asian buyer.
8
Gun (1981-1982)
The summer of 1968 was not easy for Andy Warhol. Valerie Solanas, his former colleague, shot him in the stomach with a pistol three times. Clinical death, many heavy operations did not break the artist. In addition, he did not testify against the man who nearly put him to the grave. This incident left a strong imprint both on later life and on all of Warhol's work. Fourteen years later, the gun was created, depicting a copy of the same gun. Perhaps, in this way, the artist tried to get rid of the fear of death.
9
Zebra (1983)
The painting "Zebra" is included in the silk-screen printing cycle called "Endangered Species". Defenders of the animal world ordered this series to the artist. There is an alternative name for this series - “Animals in Make-up”. The series depicts the 10 rarest and most endangered animals of the planet: Grevy's zebra, orangutan, Amur tiger, black rhino and other animals.
The viewer sees in front of him the unfolded head of a zebra. Technique - silkscreen. Thin red-blue-yellow-white lines, intertwined create an elegant image of a zebra. The picture is very dynamic, bright and immediately attracts attention. You can watch for hours an elegant pattern of interwoven lines.
10
Red Lenin (1987)
The famous icon of pop art. Not surprisingly, Andy Warhol turned his eyes to the leader of the Russian revolution, who turned the life of the largest country on the planet. This is one of the last paintings of the artist. The author very accurately noticed the character traits of Lenin, choosing this image: Lenin is still young, his eyes are strict, his lips are clenched, he can be compared to a predator before a throw. The face is depicted on a fiery red background, as a symbol of a bloody and merciless revolution. This is a kind of stamp, an icon that looked 70 years from the walls and pages of textbooks of the once great USSR.
Ironically, the picture belonged to the odious and disgraced Russian oligarch Boris Berezovsky. Before his death, he sold it for 200 thousand dollars. Another version of the painting "Black Lenin" was sold for 110 thousand dollars to an unknown buyer.
Afterword
Andy Warhol is a great creator who used philosophical overtones in his work. He always invited the viewer to think about people's lives, about being and death, emphasizing the fine line between popularity and oblivion.
These were just some of Andy Warhol's most famous paintings. Below we decided to add some more of his many works:
Green Coca-Cola Bottles (1962)
Racial Riots (1964)
Shot Through Marilyn (1964)
Wallpaper with a cow (1966)
Large Electric Chair (1967)
Mona Lisa (1978)
After the party (1979)
The Orange Prince (1984)
Kingdom of the Queens (1985)
The Last Supper (1986)
A series of oxidized paintings
That's all for now! Thanks for your attention. Editorial Most-Beauty expects you to comment on your attitude to the work of Andy Warhol.