Andy Warhol: Portraits

“Andy Warhol: Portraits” opens this week at

Phoenix Art Museum. Nearly 200 of Warhol’s screen prints,

paintings and drawings from the 1940s to the 1980s

illustrate his lifelong fascination

with celebrity culture.

One of the most influential artists of the 20th century, Andy Warhol was at the forefront of the Pop Art movement and known for his brightly colored images. This exhibition examines Warhol’s interest in capturing the likenesses of celebrities, as well as himself. On display will be more than 170 objects, including more than 90 screen print paintings, and more than 30 drawings, videos, paintings and photographs from his student days in the 1940s to the New Wave-era 1980s. Also on view will be an installation of Warhol’s reflective Silver Clouds, helium and air-filled metalized balloons.

The portrait subjects range from Prince and Queen Elizabeth II to Jackie Kennedy and Sylvester Stallone, along with many whose 15 minutes of fame has since faded. There are also several paintings, photographs, photo-booth pictures and Polaroids of Warhol himself that predate today’s fascination with “selfies.”

In working closely with The Andy Warhol Museum, Phoenix Art Museum was able to secure this exhibition of portraits. “This is a great opportunity to explore a single aspect of Warhol’s art, that spans the entirety of the artist’s career,” said Jerry Smith, curator of American and European art to 1950 and art of the American West at Phoenix Art Museum.

(left) Andy Warhol, Reigning Queens: Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom, 1985, screen prints

(middle) Andy Warhol, Jackie, 1964, acrylic and silkscreen ink on linen

(right) Andy Warhol, Prince, ca. 1984, acrylic and silkscreen ink on canvas

More than 25 years after his death, Andy Warhol remains one of the most influential figures in contemporary art. “Warhol recognized early on the growing trend of celebrity worship in our society, and of the powerful cult of famous personalities that dominates popular culture today,” said Amada Cruz, The Sybil Harrington Director at Phoenix Art Museum. She added, “He documented his social circle of society swans, movie stars and the demimonde of the 1960s and 1970s, providing a glamorous view of that era.”

Images at top, from left to right:

Andy Warhol, Marilyn, ca. 1967, acrylic and silkscreen ink on paper

Andy Warhol, Yves Saint Laurent, 1972, acrylic and silkscreen ink on linen

Andy Warhol, Self-Portrait, 1986, acrylic and silkscreen ink on linen

Andy Warhol, Grace Jones, 1986, acrylic and silkscreen ink on linen