Andy Warhol (1928-1987) is one of the seminal artists of the twentieth century. The twin themes of life and death are central to an understanding of his work. In his art, he celebrated the richness of modern life, from everyday consumer products to iconic images of celebrities and movie stars. He was equally fascinated by death in all guises: the high profile death of Marilyn Monroe; the political assassination of President Kennedy and its effect on the widow; the gruesome death of car crashes and suicides; and death as a universal symbol in his paintings of skulls.This book, which marks the eightieth anniversary of Andy Warhol's birth and the twentieth anniversary of his death, covers the whole spectrum of his work and includes the early drawings produced when he was a graphic artist; his celebrity portraits of the 1960s onwards; his films and installations; and his most iconic work such as Campbell's Soup Cans, Brillo Boxes and his screen prints of Marilyn Monroe, Liz Taylor and Elvis Presley.

Author Biography

Keith Hartley is deputy director at the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art, Edinburgh. He co-organised the ground-breaking exhibition The Romantic Spirit in German Art and has written widely on modern and contemporary art, including Ron Mueck, Ed Ruscha and Duane Hanson.Images used: (c)Licensed by The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, Inc./ARS, New York, and DACS, London, 2007