Andy Warhol (born Andrew Warhola; 1928-1987) was an American artist, filmmaker and leading figure in the Pop Art movement. Known for blurring the lines between high art and popular culture, Warhol famously transformed everyday objects and celebrities into iconic works of art—think Campbell’s Soup Cans, Marilyn Monroe and Coca-Cola bottles.
Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to Slovak immigrant parents, Warhol showed early artistic talent and later studied commercial art at Carnegie Institute of Technology (now Carnegie Mellon University). He moved to New York City, where he found success as a commercial illustrator before transitioning into fine art.
In the 1960s, Warhol opened The Factory, his famed studio that became a hub for artists, musicians and socialites. He experimented with various media, including painting, silkscreening, photography, sculpture, and film. His work often explored themes of consumerism, celebrity culture and mass production.
Warhol was also openly gay in a time when it was not widely accepted and his persona—detached, enigmatic and media-savvy—became as iconic as his art.
He died in 1987 from complications following gallbladder surgery, but his legacy continues to influence contemporary art and culture worldwide.