Expert: Jeni Andrews-Fraser - 6/13/2007

Question
Why did Andy Warhol like painting pop art paintings of celebrities? Thankyou.

Answer
Hello Tamara - and thank you for your question.  The short answer is that Warhol himself sought fame and celebrity status - he once said 'everyone will be famous for 15 minutes.'  But there is a little more to it than that, Pop art (and Warhol as its iconic master) is a response to its specific time and place(s) that uses the signs and symbols more familiar from mass-produced consumer products than 'High Art'.  The Abstract Expressionists (the movement immediately preceding Pop) broke away with traditional techniques, viewpoints and subject matter, but the Pop artists found their work too intense and sought an expression through popular (hence the term 'Pop' art) culture - specifically the movies, the media and consumer items (soup cans, Coca Cola bottles, etc.)  Hope this answers your question.  Cheers