The Andy Warhol Museum (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA) | A master of Pop Art

Pittsburgh, USA. Explore the works of Andy Warhol, a Pop Art master from the 1960s to the 1980s, and discover themes of death and impermanence.

This museum stands in Pittsburgh, USA. It displays only the works of Andy Warhol, a leading figure in Pop Art who worked from the 1960s through the 1980s. Warhol did more than create visual art: he also produced rock bands and made films. He was born and raised in Pittsburgh.

Museums that focus on the work of a single artist usually feature only very famous figures, and Andy Warhol feels like an obvious choice. His influence was that great.

The museum stands in downtown Pittsburgh. The street in front of it runs toward a bridge over the river that flows through downtown. On the street, I see a sign that reads “Warhol Street,” and on the bridge, I notice a sign that says “Andy Warhol Bridge.” The museum occupies an old seven-story building. When I enter, I find the reception desk on the left.

The exhibition floors reach up to the seventh floor. On the first floor, I see chairs next to the elevator, where a man sits. He tells me, “Please go up to the seventh floor and view the exhibitions as you come down.” The way he speaks leaves a particular impression on me. Warhol never stated this openly, but some people believe that he was gay, and I casually wonder if that idea relates to the atmosphere I feel.

When I visited, I saw Warhol’s early works from before he became famous on the seventh floor, and I found his peak works from the 1960s and 1970s on the sixth floor. Prints of Elvis Presley, Marilyn Monroe, Jackie Kennedy, and Elizabeth Taylor line the walls. Among the Japanese figures, I notice a print of Ryuichi Sakamoto.

A guided tour happens to take place on the sixth floor, so I join it. I listen to explanations about the works that use famous people as their subjects.

Elvis Presley portrait

I see a well-known work in which about ten portraits from a movie scene line up side by side. The images gradually fade from right to left. Warhol never explains what this means, but the guide suggests that it may send a message that fame does not last forever.

Jackie Kennedy portrait

I see six portraits on display, and the guide explains that five of them, except for one, use Jackie Kennedy’s face after the death of JFK (John F. Kennedy). In the center of the gallery, I find the magazines that served as the source for the portraits, with the face sections cut out. The guide explains that Jackie became an icon because of JFK’s death. I also learn that Warhol often chose people who had experienced tragedy as his subjects.

Elizabeth Taylor portrait

The guide explains that Elizabeth Taylor went through multiple divorces and often suffered from poor health, and that Warhol may have chosen her as a subject because she represented someone who experienced misfortune.

Marilyn Monroe portrait

I look at a portrait of Marilyn Monroe. I often see this work in many museums, but the guide explains that only one version of this portrait exists. The source image comes from the film Niagara, in which Monroe appeared. According to the guide, this film stands out because it is the only one connected to her death. I also learn that the portrait does not show her striking a pose for the movie; instead, it uses a photograph that captures her in a more natural, unguarded moment.

Skull

I see a work titled Skull on the fifth floor, and it seems clear to me that one of Warhol’s central themes is death. The museum does not show it this time, but Warhol also created the famous work Electric Chair. I feel that I have begun to understand his themes.

Because many of Warhol’s works use silkscreen printing, I often see them in museums around the world. Even so, I strongly recommend joining a guided tour and listening to the explanations.

I also notice a café next to the first floor of the museum, where I can relax at tables arranged along the ground level.

I had assumed that large cities on the East Coast felt run-down, but when I walked through downtown Pittsburgh, I found it to be a clean and well-maintained city.