The travelling exhibit Andy Warhol: Manufactured is currently appearing at the Art Gallery of Alberta in Edmonton. This is the exhibit’s only Canadian stop and it will be showing at the gallery until August 21, 2011. In postcard printing, firms often use Warhol’s images or similar images on these and other products.
The exhibit, which is the largest art show ever presented in Edmonton, looks at the work, philosophy, celebrity and influence of Andy Warhol on the world of art. Andy Warhol started his career as an illustrator for commercial magazines; he used some of the techniques and ideas in his later works of art.
Andy Warhol: Manufactured features close to 90 original works of art including photographs, silk-screens and film. Some of the works on display are his iconic prints of Jackie Kennedy and Elizabeth Taylor and some examples from his Campbell’s Soup series. During the exhibit, the art gallery will also be installing Warhol’s Silver Clouds in one of their galleries. The Silver Clouds are helium-filled plastic shapes that float freely around the gallery. The exhibit is open during gallery hours which are Tuesday to Friday from 11am to 7pm and Saturday and Sunday from 11am to 5pm.
The work of Andy Warhol shows how commercial art and illustration can influence serious art and vice versa. He took a lot of his inspiration from advertising and marketing products. Coming full circle, some of the techniques that Warhol used for his art are also used in marketing products nowadays.
