Andy Warhol

Andy Warhol, whose real name was Andrew Warhola, was born on August 6, 1928, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in a wooden house that had a communal bathroom in an alley outside the home, to a Slovak Catholic family. Six years later, his father would buy a house at 3252 Dawson Street.

From an early age, Warhol showed an interest in art, supported by his mother, Julia, who was also an artist. His relationship with his mother was extremely close; she moved to New York to live with him and remained by his side until her death in 1972. His Catholic faith had a significant impact on his life and work, regularly attending mass and helping in homeless shelters, although he rarely displayed it publicly.

Andy was one of the main exponents of the movement called pop art, influenced by Dadaism and the work of Marcel Duchamp, who questioned the nature of art. This movement was characterized by using images from popular culture and mass media. Warhol deeply influenced other contemporary artists like Jean-Michel Basquiat and Keith Haring, who adopted his approach to popular culture and his distinctive style.

This artist's screen printing technique, which allowed for mass reproduction of images, was revolutionary and reflected his fascination with serial production and commercialization. His work "Campbell's Tomato Soup Can" is emblematic of this technique and pop art in general. In addition to Basquiat and Haring, his influence extended to other artists and movements, such as neo-pop and 80s art, while also leaving his mark on experimental film and music, collaborating with bands like The Velvet Underground, revealing the breadth of his cultural impact.

This prominent American, a son of Pennsylvania, in turn, influenced a wide variety of artists and movements. His work paved the way for conceptual art, which values ideas over aesthetic forms, impacting artists like Carl Andre, known for his minimalist sculptures. The legacy of pop art continued with artists like Banksy and many more, who continue to surprise us day by day.