The Art of Andy Warhol is a three-credit GPS course that provides an overview of the ground-breaking and controversial art of Andy Warhol (1928-1987). We look closely at Warhol’s life and work putting it in the context of both the Pop Art movement and American history of the second half of the twentieth century. Additionally, we assess the artist’s impact on more recent developments in contemporary art. The facts of the artist's biography—growing up in a devout working-class immigrant family in Pittsburgh—are essential to understanding his radical and ground-breaking postmodern aesthetic. Students will make a day-long field trip to the city to visit sites important to the artist's life and artistic development and spend time at the Warhol Museum to meet with staff and conduct first-hand research. Guest lecturers throughout the semester will offer insight to aspects of Warhol's life, extensive body of work, and formal innovations using a variety of experimental media.
Offered during the fall semester, this lecture-format course will meet normally in an on-campus classroom. There will be a one-day field trip (not overnight). There is no additional cost beyond regular tuition and fees.
Eligibility
This course is open to all WVU students with no pre-requisites. The Art of Andy Warhol course fulfills GEF requirement 6 and can be taken for either undergraduate or graduate credit.
Undergraduate course: ARHS 388Graduate course: ARHS 588
Faculty Contact
Kristina Olson
Professor/Associate Director
School of Art & Design
kristina.olson@mail.wvu.edu