Marilyn Monroe

Andy Warhol was one of the most prolific and well-known artists of the late 20th century, his name almost synonymous with the Pop Art movement. He challenged the importance of the hand of the artist and the “uniqueness” of a work of art through his hallmark combination of popular culture imagery, the use of repetitive commercial processes (such as silkscreen), and his reliance on large groups of assistants to produce works at his “Factory” studio. The hard outlines and flat areas of color in his paintings also evoke the mass-production of everyday items and their packaging.

Long fascinated by celebrity, Warhol created many early works based on widely reproduced images of such pop culture icons such as Elizabeth Taylor, Elvis Presley, Jackie Kennedy, and Marilyn Monroe. These silkscreen paintings were done in multiples, often with many variations.