Andy Warhol: Prince of Pop [Anglais] [Relié]

Grade 6-9–Warhol's career spanned advertising, painting, filmmaking, and magazine publishing. This competent, well-documented biography covers his childhood and art school years in Pittsburgh, his successful career in commercial art, and his rise in the Pop Art movement. Chapters also cover his dependence on his mother; his pursuit of celebrity; the lively social, drug, and artscene at his studio (christened the "Factory"); a near-fatal shooting; and his death at age 59. The authors provide a good balance of personal and art history, showing how Warhol's signature silkscreen soup cans and portraits were rooted in his commercial beginnings and 1960s commentary on consumerism. Throughout, they provide insight into specific works of art and their relationship to one another. Their liberal use of quotes by Warhol and his contemporaries paints a picture of a man who was often flip or evasive, who wore a very public persona but was extremely guarded about his personal life. The excellent glossary will aid students new to art terms. From the cover design to the quality of the paper and well-selected reproductions and photos, this is attractive bookmaking. While this eccentric, enigmatic subject is not likely to engender affection among readers, they will finish the book with an understanding of his legacy to the art world.–Daryl Grabarek, School Library Journal
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*Starred Review* Gr. 8-up. As in the authors' previous titles about iconoclastic artists, such as Runaway Girl (2003), about sculptor Louise Bourgeois, Greenberg and Jordan offer a riveting biography that humanizes their controversial subject without making judgments or sensationalizing. Chronological chapters follow Warhol from his Pittsburgh youth through his infamous decades in New York City, ending with a chapter that examines his profound influence on American art and culture. With honesty and tact, the authors frankly discuss Warhol's insecurities (his struggles with "fiery acne," his wavering self-image); his sometimes astonishing detachment; and the infamous Factory studio, with its wild, experimental sex-and-drugs culture. Their lucid insight into the art is also exceptional. In clear, evocative language they describe how Warhol made his art, the cultural context in which he worked, his originality, and the controversies he raised. With the exception of a few missing references, the source notes are exemplary, adding dimension to the story. A chronology, glossary of art terms, and numerous quotes from family, friends, critics, and Warhol himself bolster this highly readable, balanced, and fascinating survey of an American icon. An insert of color reproductions of the artist's work was not available in galley. Gillian Engberg
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --Ce texte fait référence à lédition Relié .

"IN THE FUTURE EVERYBODY will be world famous for 15 minutes."

The Campbell's Soup Cans. The Marilyns. The Electric Chairs. The Flowers. The work created by Andy Warhol elevated everyday images to art, ensuring Warhol a fame that has far outlasted the 15 minutes he predicted for everyone else. His very name is synonymous with the 1960s American art movement known as Pop.

But Warhol's oeuvre was the sum of many parts. He not only produced iconic art that blended high and popular culture; he also made controversial films, starring his entourage of the beautiful and outrageous; he launched Interview, a slick magazine that continues to sell today; and he reveled in leading the vanguard of New York's hipster lifestyle. The Factory, Warhol's studio and den of social happenings, was the place to be.

Who would have predicted that this eccentric boy, the Pittsburgh-bred son of Eastern European immigrants, would catapult himself into media superstardom? Warhol's rise, from poverty to wealth, from obscurity to status as a Pop icon, is an absorbing tale—one in which the American dream of fame and fortune is played out in all of its success and its excess. No artist of the late 20th century took the pulse of his time—and ours—better than Andy Warhol.

Jan Greenberg and Sandra Jordan are the authors of numerous acclaimed books about art, including Vincent van Gogh: Portrait of an Artist; Action Jackson; Runaway Girl: The Artist Louise Bourgeois; and Chuck Close Up Close. The authors live in St. Louis, MO, and New York City respectively.

From the Hardcover edition.