Reading Andy Warhol

Was Andy Warhol an intellectual or rather a comic-reader? That the most famous proponent of Pop Art had a very close relationship with books is not even known to many connoisseurs to this day. This exhibition, curated by the Museum Brandhorst, shows – for the first time – how Warhol continuously worked on books as a creative artist from his student days in the 1940s until his death in 1987. He made illustrations for famous novels while still a student. As a successful graphic artist Warhol created playful booklets on certain subjects in the ’50s that he distributed in the New York fashion world as promotional gifts. It was not long before Warhol tackled book covers for major publishers such as Doubleday and New Directions. During the first few years in the Factory the artist, who had since risen to fame, gave writer-friends of his silkscreen prints and photos for their poetry books. Together with other artists in the Factory, he ultimately compiled illustrated volumes using photographs and film material created there. Audio tape recordings were turned into publications that pushed back the boundaries of conventional literature and, at the same time, shaped the image of Warhol himself that conditions the reception of his work to this day. Shown in this comprehensive exhibition the books designed by Warhol reveal a surprisingly unknown aspect of the world-famous artist.