Who Was Andy Warhol?

Everyone has seen one or more of Andy Warhol famous paintings. But who was this somewhat mystical figure, and in what way did he put his mark on the world of art?Andy Warhol (born Andrew Warhola) was an influential American artist known for his paintings, prints and movies. From the 1960s and until his death in 1987 Andy Warhols famous paintings and art defined the visual art movement known as pop art.When Andy Warhol was a child he became seriously ill and was often bed-ridden. This made him an outcast among his school-mates. But the hours he spent in bed would ironically become his greatest inspiration for his art. When ill young Andrew collected pictures of movie stars and used his time painting - thus marking the start of an astonishing career.Warhol showed an early interest and talent for creating art. This would lead him to his studies of commercial art at the School of Fine Arts in Pittsburgh. After his studies he moved to New York to become a magazine illustrator. During the 1950s Warhol became very successful in his work, especially by designing album covers and promotional materials for RCA Records. Soon after, in the beginning of the 1960s he held his first art exhibitions.Among his most famous work you will find paintings of Campell's Tomato Soup, Coke bottles, and movie stars like Marilyn Monroe and Elisabeth Taylor. Warhol was attacked for "capitulating" to consumerism, but his pop art became wildly popular and controversial.Looking back in time it has become obvious that Warhol marked a change in the modern art world. His work, his paintings and prints are still very popular.