The Andy Warhol Museum EXPLORING THE ART OF PITTSBURGH’S FAVORITE SON
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ndy Warhol was the undisputed king of pop art from the time he burst onto the New York art scene in the ‘60s until his untimely death in 1987. His work — including his signature loud, splashy lithographs, experimental films, and sculptures — poked fun at and pushed the boundaries of mainstream society. Warhol’s life was as turbulent as his masterpieces, and he remains one of America’s most recognized artists. Set in a former industrial building in the artist’s boyhood home of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the Andy Warhol Museum is a marvel to behold. Bright and brilliant, outrageous and thought-provoking, this place does an impeccable job of capturing the spirit of the artist, and it’s a terrific place to explore. Here are some of the highlights of a visit: Get To Know Warhol — And His Pittsburgh Roots
Andy Warhol was the son of eastern European immigrants who settled in Pittsburgh, and the museum does a terrific job explaining and exploring his relationship with the city vis-a-vis the artist’s early works. When a childhood illness periodically kept him from attending school, the young Warhol gravitated toward comic books and Hollywood magazines, setting the stage for his later focus and works. As a young boy, he took art classes in Pittsburgh, and later attended the Carnegie Institute of Technology — now Carnegie Mellon University — focusing on art before setting off for New York City. The museum does an excellent job of starting from the beginning, explaining the city’s influence on the young artist, and what the city was like at the time Warhol was growing up there. You’ll see his art school sketches and the progression of his art unfold throughout the museum. Admire The Beautifully Curated Exhibits The museum holds the largest collection of Warhol’s artworks and archives, anywhere. This includes paintings, drawings, films, prints, photographs, and many more works and personal effects that span the entire range of his career. While this sounds like a lot to take in — and it is — the museum makes it easy to understand, digest, and appreciate. Guests start on the top floor, which presents Warhol’s early days and art. From there, you descend six additional floors that represent the subsequent decades of his creations and collaborations, and also incorporate rotating exhibits. It’s an intuitive, insightful way to take in the depth and breadth of the collection, one that tells a full, rich story. You truly feel the scope of Warhol’s life and work, and it’s an experience not every museum can offer. Go Beyond The Canvas One of the things so distinctive about the Warhol is the focus on experiential touches you’ll encounter throughout the museum. On several floors, you’ll find separate exhibits meant to be touched. These tactile art reproductions
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