The Andy Warhol Museum

The Andy Warhol Museum, unsurprisingly, displays the life work of the American visual artist, film director and producer Andrew Warhola Jr. It is the largest museum dedicated to a single artist in North America.

History of The Andy Warhol Museum

Andy Warhol was one of the most influential artists of the 20th century, renowned for his role in the pop art movement of the mid to late 1950s. His paintings have become some of the most iconic images of the last century, with his ‘Shot Sage Blue Marilyn‘ selling for almost $200 million.

The first plans for the museum were proposed in 1989, just over two years following Warhol’s death. It was a collaborative project between The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts Inc, Dia Art Foundation and Carnegie Institute. The building housing the museum was originally constructed in 1911 as a distribution centre for products sold to mines and mills. Architect Richard Gluckman redesigned the premises, allowing the museum to occupy seven floors for gallery and exhibition space. The doors were officially opened on 13 May 1994, allowing visitors to see thousands of works created by the American artist.

The Andy Warhol Museum today

The museum houses the most extensive collection of Warhol’s creative output anywhere in the world. It includes thousands of paintings, sculptures, photographs, prints, sketches and around 350 films made by Andy Warhol. The works stretch from his time as a student to some of his most iconic works during the height of his career.

The museum has many interactive and immersive exhibitions and pieces that are meant to allow visitors to experience the art in new and interesting ways. Across the museum you can find 3D printed versions of Warhol’s artworks that can be touched and explored. This not only opens up a novel way of sensing the artwork, but allows people with visual disabilities to experience them.

Possibly the most impressive exhibit can be found on the 5th floor of the museum. In a dark room visitors can see two dozen silver ‘clouds’ floating around, slowly falling down before flying back into the air. These clouds are balloons that are filled with a mixture of normal air and helium, making them light enough to allow them to float, but not soo light that they would stick to the ceiling.

Besides enjoying a wide variety of artworks, visitors can create their own masterpieces. The museum studio offers workshops, classes and other activities which allow visitors to let their inner artist out.

Getting to The Andy Warhol Museum

The museum is located on the North Shore of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The premises have a car park, with the entrance found on East General Robinson Street. Alternatively use the city busses that stop right next to the Andy Warhol Museum or the Pittsburg Light Rail system, the closest stop being the Wood St Station.