Untitled (Green Sam), C 1956 > Andy Warhol

Born Andy Warhola in Pittsburgh in 1928 of Czechoslovakian immigrant parents, Warhol demonstrated an early talent for drawing and design. After graduating from the Carnegie Institute of Technology in 1949, he moved to New York City where he changed his name and quickly established himself as the most sought-after commercial artist in New York. His first one-man show in 1952 was followed by a long succession of prestigious solo shows and collections in major galleries and museums throughout the world. Warhol expressed his artistic flair through various mediums including serigraphy, cable television and photo-mechanical silkscreen (which he pioneered). He was best known for his paintings of commercial subjects such as the Campbell soup cans and for his portraits of celebrities, especially Marilyn Monroe. His work also includes minimalist installations, work with 'The Velvet Underground' rock band and the founding of the style magazine 'Interview'. Andy Warhol was a founder and major exponent of the American Pop Art movement as well as one of the most prolific, talented and influential artists of the 20th century. As well as being an artist, he was also a designer, film maker, music producer, commercial illustrator, author and magazine publisher. After his death in 1987, the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts was created in New York to support young artists.