Few American artists are as ever-present and instantly recognizable as Andy Warhol
(1928–1987). Through his carefully cultivated persona and willingness to experiment
with non-traditional art-making techniques, Warhol understood the growing power of
images in contemporary life and helped to expand the role of the artist in society. This
exhibition—the first Warhol retrospective organized by a U.S. institution since
1989—reconsiders the work of one of the most inventive, influential, and important
American artists. Building on a wealth of new materials, research and scholarship that
has emerged since the artist’s untimely death in 1987, this exhibition reveals new
complexities about the Warhol we think we know, and introduces a Warhol for the 21st
century.
Andy Warhol; Pop art icon, artist, socialite, son. He keeps us yearning for more after 3 decades have past since his death. The Whitney Museum was hosting his collection for art critics and admirers alike to be intrigued by his work Unlike many Warhol shows, these aren’t the typical Warhol pieces. This exhibit is a personal eye into the legend’s lifetime of work and play.
The museumgoers were more-than-happy to get their pop culture fix via the quintessential pieces. This was the first exhibition of his work in an American Museum in over 30 years. The Whitney devoted three floors to hundreds of his designs spanning decades.
The exhibit includes some of Warhol’s most iconic works: from his expected Campbell Soup cans, to clothing ads and even his enormous camouflage painting of The Last Supper – there’s plenty to sate the appetite of even the most ardent Warhol fanatic. Most of the pieces are electrifying, unpredictable and diverse in the elements of surprise.
Through them, we see a more personal side of Warhol through these eclectic works. One of his colorful pop paintings of his mother, a few drawings of different men’s feet, and even a large, holiday-like penis decorated around the shaft provide insights into the workings of Warhol’s mind. The Whitney exhibits demonstrates his queer side, a side seen rarely outside of his movies – not only were we ready for it – we waited eagerly to see it.
Featured was one of his many self-portraits, in which he positioned two heads of himself. Another piece shoes the same woman with two different noses, insinuating plastic surgery. (one nose, large and curved, next to the same face with a nose that’s more in line with Western beauty standards.) This piece is based on an ad for a plastic surgeon, and shows the result of a woman’s nose reduction. Warhol often expressed bodily insecurities and gender-fluidity through art. Clearly, he saw himself as being ugly and in need of repair.
Warhol was very self-critical; and this is one of many pieces that he puts his uncertainties on display. This painting allowed two parts of himself show as he saw them – perhaps the ugly reality as he may have believed himself to be, juxtaposed with the ideal beauty he wanted to be. Another side of Warhol was that of a famous socialite, always wanting to be surrounded by beautiful people.
In this exhibit, we witnessed a lot of information about the times during which Warhol lived – times that influenced him and his art. Included was a receipt for $100 for his photography.
In another section, we see a darker side of Warhol’s work with pieces depicting police riots, car crashes and even a suicide. One piece that had been printed several times was a woman who had jumped to her death from the Empire State Building and landed on a limo. As disturbing as was this piece, it was hard not to look into it. The piece is not only dark metaphorically, but also quite literally.
Ultimately, From A to B and Back Again was an entertaining exhibit worth seeing. Thanks to the Whitney for the charming layout. Fan of art in general, and of Andy Warhol in particular, are curious to know more about the life underneath the leather jacket and glasses. Visitors to the exhibit felt like insiders, peeking into the mysterious world of Any Warhol.
