Commerical Products
Sections
01
Andy Warhol
Andy Warhol (1928-1987) was an essential contributor to the Pop art movement of the 1950s and a widely respected icon in the gay community. Pop art was a new style of art which began in England in the 1950s. This movement utilized realistic renditions of popular, everyday items. Warhol’s Pop art pieces are well-known cultural icons of the 20th century.
“I just paint things I always thought were beautiful, things you use every day and never think about.”
02
Commercial Products
Before devoting his time to painting and exhibiting his iconic pop art pieces, Andy Warhol worked as a commercial artist in New York City. During the 1950s, he illustrated shoes for Glamour Magazine and did freelance work for corporate clients including Tiffany and Co., Vogue, and RCA Records. Throughout the rest of his career, he was fascinated by advertisements and aimed to blur the line between commercial art and fine art. Warhol influenced the trajectory of American art by furthering Marcel Duchamp’s (master of the “readymade”) questioning of the very nature of art. As seen in his works, Warhol incorporated everyday objects during the 1960s.
Warhol said, “The commercial and the fine art are intermingled and kind of feed into each other all the way through my career.”
03
Painting & Graphic Design
Painting can consist in many different styles with varying techniques which can differ from artist to artist. Artists such as Van Gogh, Frida Kahlo and Cezanne have their distinct techniques that they carried on from painting to painting. This is the same for Warhol. His distinguished colors, repetitiveness and subjects are well known.
However, the same can be said for graphic design. Certain techniques and elements are used when creating precise graphics or illustrations. Andy Warhol drew a link between commercial package design and contemporary minimalist art. Warhol demonstrates this style within his Ad series of 1985.
Warhol's 1985 Ad Series
*All of Warhol's works are cited from the Warhol Museum.
This series is so significant because it strongly influences American culture.
