When you hear pop art, the word that first comes to mind is Warhol. What is Warhol pop art? Why is Warhol always associated with pop art?

Warhol is the surname of a popular artist whose full name is Andy Warhol. You might be up to date with his works; you probably have seen those Campbell soup cans which were turned into works of art, those are examples of classic Warhol art.

Andy Warhol was born in Pittsburgh, and his original name was Andrew Warhola. As a young child, he already showed interest, and great talent, in painting. During the sixties, he started using commercial products like Campbell soup cans and Coke bottles for his art. Later on, he popularized the images of different people such as Marilyn Monroe and Elvis Presley by making a silkscreen portrait of them.

Andy Warhol developed into the foremost figure in pop art. He appeared to be seen mingling with all kinds of individuals; from Hollywood celebrities to bohemians and intellectuals—Warhol spent time with them all, and this has in all probability influenced his art. Warhol did not come from a rich family, but he steadily worked his way to fame and fortune.

The reason why Andy Warhol is linked to pop art can be seen above. Pop art is short for popular art. Before, art was considered to be for the elite; it was made by and for rich people. This was referred to as the fine arts. Low art were those which were used for magazine covers, illustrations, and other such art. Andy Warhol strived to generate a level ground for high art and low art. In a way, he elevated low art, and at the same time help the masses reach, or understand, high art.

He later on created shoes, bags, and dresses which featured his own art, which he mass produced. He also started producing experimental films. All of these helped “create” the Andy Warhol that we know today. This popularized Warhol pop art; most people delight in his colorful and bold artworks, which were very playful.

Naturally, just as Warhol became famous, his works of art also became very controversial. He used icons from advertising, Hollywood, and even cartoons. Nonetheless despite all of the criticisms surrounding his work, Warhol has doubtlessly won over them, as his works of art are recognized all over the world. Warhol pop art has not only taken over America, but in all other countries as well; we see his artworks everywhere—in T-shirts, bags, shoes, magazines, even web sites. Truthfully, Warhol has successfully conquered the market, just as he desired to do when he was still alive. Though Warhol pop art did not turned out to be famous for the reason Warhol tried his best to ‘sell’ his art; all people loves his art because it is a refreshing change from the conventional painting that we come across, and it destroys our rationale of what art really should be.

Today, Warhol pop art can be seen practically anywhere. One can say that Andy Warhol succeeded in creating a unique kind of art, and at the same time spread the word about his bizarre and playful works. Upon his death, the Andy Warhol Museum was created in his hometown in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.