While in Montreal we went to see the "Warhol Live" exhibit at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts. Andy Warhol, 1928-1987. Did you know that Warhol began his career as a very successful commercial illustrator?? He illustrated for numerous magazines, did shoe ads for I. Miller, and worked on many record covers. His very first gallery exhibit was at Ferus Gallery in Los Angeles-32 Campbell's Soup cans (1961-62). His most famous works were Campbell's Soup Cans, Elvis, the Marilyn Monroe series and headshots of famous celebrities. Warhol came to be a painter, avant garde filmaker, record producer, author, and public figure. A celebrity himself, he coined the phrase "15 minutes of fame" suggesting that everyone in their lifetime will be famous for 15 minutes. The exhibit was all about the music and dance of his time, and how it reflected in Warhols work and life. In one room the floor was raised in the center and there were lots of large pillows strewn about for people to lounge on. It was completely dark with loud music and slides and videos on the walls. As exhibits go, I enjoyed this and would reccommend it, but I really have my sites set on a future trip to Pittsburgh, PA. to visit the WarholMuseum.
