The iconic pop artists first exhibited his Campbell’s soup cans in L.A. in 1962
With the eyes of the art world on Los Angeles this weekend for the opening of the Frieze Art Fair (see our guide here) the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts has created a unique installation of the late artist’s work to be displayed inside a downtown boutique.
Opening tonight with a gala reception that’s open to the public, and running through March 12, “Andy WarhoLA” includes more than 100 photographs taken by the artist in the 1960s, 70s and 80s including celebrities like Molly Ringwald and Flea from the Red Hot Chili Peppers as well as L.A. landmarks like Grauman’s Chinese Theater and traffic on the 405.
Andy Warhol
RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS
October 1985
Black and White Print
8 x 10 inCredit: © The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, Inc.
The exhibition will take place entirely on a screen installed inside an oversized reproduction of a 1960s Brillo Box, an homage to Warhol’s iconic pop art sculptures. Curator Michael Dayton Hermann of The Andy Warhol Foundation writes that “the exhibition collapses commerce, celebrity, and place into a single immersive environment filled with objects of desire,” but come and figure that out for yourself. A new exclusive line of merch drops tonight with proceeds benefiting the non-profit.
Andy Warhol
SIDEWALK (SHIRLEY TEMPLE)
c. 1983
Black and White Print
8 x 10 inCredit: © The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, Inc.
Warhol’s famous Campbell’s soup cans were first exhibited together at Ferus gallery on La Cienega in July of 1962. The gallery was founded by Walter Hopps in 1957 and he was soon joined by Irving Blum, who brought Warhol, Jasper Johns, Roy Lichtenstein and Frank Stella to L.A.. Fifty years later, their exploits were captured in the documentary The Cool School by Oscar-winner Morgan Neville.
Those original 32 soup can paintings were about 24” tall and offered at $200 each. (Eli Broad reportedly purchased “Small Torn Campbell’s Soup Can (Pepper Pot),” in 2006 for $11.7 million) A competing gallery on what was then gallery row, stacked actual cans of Campbell’s from the supermarket (including turkey noodle, split pea and clam chowder) in their window with a sign marked “Do not be misled. Get the original. Our low price 2 for 33 cents.”
Andy Warhol filming “The Love Boat” in 1985 with Vera Perez and Laura DeanCredit: Mike Mullen/Herald Examiner Collection/Los Angeles Public Library
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Opening Friday, February 27th
6:00pm-8:00pm
WHERE:
Dover Street Market Los Angeles
606-607 Imperial Street
Los Angeles, CA 90021