Andy Warhol Pictures

The art world has produced many celebrities over the years, but not many artists have achieved success in their lifetime until recently. Andy Warhol was an expert in self promotion, and made himself into a brand. He became a household name in the 1960s, and Andy Warhol pictures are always snapped up quickly by collectors and auction houses. Since his death in 1987, the price of originals has rocketed. Most fans have to be content with a print or a poster. Many of the images in Andy Warhol pictures are familiar to the public. They have transcended art and become part of our culture.

Along with artists such as Jim Dine, Roy Lichtenstein, and Claes Oldenburg, Andy was part of the movement known as Pop Art. This had been earlier referred to as the Soup Can school, a term which was coined after the famous series of Campbell's Soup Cans which appeared in Andy Warhol pictures. Pop Art took everyday images from the world of advertising and stylized them. In fact, Andy started his career as a commercial artist drawing women's shoes.

Nothing was considered too mundane for Andy's attention. Andy Warhol pictures depicted coke bottles and brillo pad boxes. The initial reaction to this was snobbish. Defenders of Pop Art pointed out that a coke bottle was no different than Cézanne painting a wine bottle. Andy also liked to paint iconic symbols of America such as the Statue of Liberty and the Brooklyn Bridge. He also painted huge dollar signs, American sports cars, revolvers, Mickey Mouse, and macabre electric chairs.

Beautiful and charismatic women are another theme in Andy Warhol pictures. There was a particular obsession with Marilyn Monroe, whom he reproduced over and over. He also depicted Princess Diana, Jackie Kennedy, Greta Garbo, and Ingrid Bergman. Male stars were a subject too sometimes, when he painted Elvis drawing a gun, and Muhammad Ali.