The Andy Warhol Museum tells the iconic pop artist’s story and explores his legacy through its extensive collection. Situated in Warhol’s birthplace of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, The Andy Warhol Museum provides visitors with a sense of the influences that shaped his unique style.
A guided group tour can help visitors unpack the museum’s seven floors of art, memorabilia, and stories.
“Our tours are led by artist-educators who are artists in their own right and bring that unique perspective to their tours,” says Nicole Dezelon, director of learning and public engagement at The Andy Warhol Museum. “We promote deep-looking and active learning by engaging visitors with questions about the art they are viewing and the process behind it.”
Visits begin on the top floor. The gallery provides a primer on Warhol, highlighting his immigrant heritage in industrial Pittsburgh and his move to the Carnegie Institute of Technology. The gallery explores his move to New York where he worked as a commercial designer and illustrator for magazines, storefronts, and high fashion.
Credit: Abby Warhola
“Warhol was multidisciplinary,” Dezelon says. “He worked in film, silkscreening, and painting—and left behind many writings. This is a piece that people don’t necessarily know about him, which the museum helps visitors appreciate.”
The third-floor gallery holds 610 Andy Warhol time capsules. Researchers have been able to take his accumulated writings and learn more about the sources behind his work and connect the dots, meaning the world is still learning more about Warhol. Another floor is dedicated to contemporary artists with special exhibits. These rotating exhibits connect the current day with the art life of Warhol, whether by practice, concept, or relation to pop culture.
Throughout the tour, interactive elements bring the museum to life. The museum’s industrial vibe resonates with Warhol’s studio. Visitors can create their own screen test or walk through the reproduction of “Silver Clouds”—an installation of floating metallic “pillows” hovering in space, allowing viewers to become physically involved in the art.
In addition to the hourlong guided tour, groups can participate in a hands-on artmaking workshop in The Factory. “The Pop Portrait class is a popular offering,” Dezelon says. “Visitors follow Warhol’s process from beginning to end in creating a silkscreen print of a contemporary pop icon to take home with them.” This year’s icons include Zendaya, Lil Nas X, and Bernie Sanders.
As one of the most comprehensive single-artist museums in the world, The Andy Warhol Museum is sure to engage, enlighten, and entertain visitors in exploring the artistic output of “The Godfather of Pop Art.”
For more on The Andy Warhol Museum, call 412-237-8300 or visit warhol.org.
Main Image: Lobby, The Andy Warhol Museum; Credit: Abby Warhola
Article by Michael McLaughlin
