The Andy Warhol Museum

The Andy Warhol Museum is a museum dedicated to the life and art of famed modern American artist Andy Warhol (1928-1987). It is one of the four Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh and opened in May of 1994. Thus far, over 9 million people have visited the museum. It is housed in an old mill and mine product distribution center built in 1911. Architect Richard Gluckman designed the museum, which features seven floors of galley and exhibit space as well as an art studio and conservation lab in the basement.

Andy Warhol transformed modern art. He was born and raised here in Pittsburgh then moved to New Your City when he was 21. Eventually,  he became a leading commercial artist and illustrator in the United States. By the late 1950’s, Warhol started to focus on the fine arts by using silk-screening to make photographically originated artworks. Each of his works of art brought him fame; his subjects ranged from icons like a Campbell’s soup can to celebrities such as Marilyn Monroe. He also captures images of death and disaster. Warhol had a forty-year-long career where he also dappled in the arts of filmmaking, photography, and publishing. Warhol’s art ignored the traditional restriction that was pre-established by predecessors of art. He bridged the gap between fine art and popular culture. Warhol is quoted as saying “Art is what you can get away with.” 

The museum has seven floors where visitors will find drawings, prints, paintings, sculpture, film and video. The museum also features work by other artists whose works share Warhol's style. Additionally, there are many different programs to experience while there including gallery talks, Screen Tests (where visitors can sit for their 15 minutes of fame), hands-on studio experiences for visitors of all ages, as well as daily views of Warhol’s film and video work. 

Along with the exhibits, the museum also offers programs and camps for future artists. One of these is the studio program that provides hands-on experiences where participants are free to explore Warhol’s conceptual approach to making art and the techniques and media employed by the artist during his career. For children, the museum offers weekly summer camps which may be combined with “Aftercamp Adventures” for a complete day of programming. Camps include a variety of content, from working with our visiting artist to designing art for a social cause.

Needham, Alex. "Andy Warhol's Legacy Lives on in the Factory of Fame." The Guardian. February 22, 2012. Accessed October 13, 2016. https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2012/feb/22/andy-warhol-legacy-lives-on