The contemporary art world has luminaries such as Pablo Picasso, Lucio Fontana and Andy Warhol to thank for forcing the public to question the ever-morphing definition of art. In many ways, these forerunners in their respective styles paved the way for other artists to push boundaries and allow for a broader understanding of the possibility of the creative mind. While today it may be easy to understand why Picasso became as revered as he was, 90 years ago it was quite a different concept. “Why is this considered art?”many in the public ask. Someone like Andy Warhol may have answered “Why not?”
“Art is what you can get away with.” ~Andy Warhol
In the late 1940’s, Andy Warhol began his young career in art as an advertising illustrator of shoes for Glamour magazine. His early introduction to the world of ads and mass-market consumerism shaped his very concept of what was considered art and would later become the central tenets of the Pop Art movement. In many respects, Warhol has become one of the most pivotal minds of the 20th century as it relates to fine art, as he continued to challenge the very understanding of what art was. A practicing artist for decades, he raised and repeated imagery of banal household objects (such as Campbell’s Soup cans and Brillo Pad boxes) so they began to enter the public’s understanding of what art could be.
It was only fitting that 30 years after his entrée into the advertising world, Warhol would return to his roots in the most literal sense by being commissioned in the mid 1980’s to create the “Ads” portfolio. 10 screenprints on Lenox board, commissioned by Feldman Fine Art in New York, featured iconic advertising imagery including the Volkswagen “Lemon” ad, Paramount Pictures logo, Chanel, Donald Duck, Mobilgas and a Lifesavers advertisement. Handsome actors such as James Dean, and then sitting President Ronald Reagan – who had formerly modeled Van Heusen dress shirts in the 1950’s & 60’s – were included in the portfolio as well. Now a household name, Apple’s MacIntosh (“Mac”) personal computers made their debut in 1984, only one year before Warhol included them in his Ads suite. Actresses such as Judy Garland, Bette Davis, Lauren Bacall and Barbra Streisand all had modeled “Blackglama” fur coats. Warhol included a Technicolor Garland frozen in time, both coldly and with an arua of royalty. The company’s tagline “What Becomes a Legend Most?” would have more than likely inspired Warhol as his fascination with celebrity was central to the very creation of many of his artworks.
In Warhol’s iconic style, the candy-colored signed artworks are 38″ x 38″ each from an edition of 190. Inquire to info@robinrile.com for further details on pricing and availability.
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” Andy Warhol Ads Portfolio ” copyright Robin Rile Fine Art
