6. Campbell’s Soup Cans
Andy Warhol, born Andrew Warhola in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, was a leading figure in the Pop Art movement of the 20th century. A controversial figure and master of self-promotion, Warhol is widely acknowledged as the originator of the concept of “15 minutes of fame.” He was a fixture of the Studio 54 nightclub scene and amassed a following of intellectuals, celebrities, gay icons, and more whom he dubbed the “Warhol Superstars.”
One of Warhol’s most famous works is the Pop Art silkscreen of Campbell’s soup cans. While many think he only made a screen of one can, he actually created 32, representing the entire line of soup Campbell’s produced the year he created the piece in 1962. He never gave any instruction on how to display the 32 pieces, so the Museum of Modern Art made the editorial choice to arrange them in the order the flavors were introduced by Campbell’s.
Pop Art was a movement that focused on the intersection of art, culture, and advertising that was meant to challenge the conventions of traditional fine art. Popular in Great Britain and the United States in the mid-20th century, Pop Art drew inspiration from comic books, advertisements, and everyday consumerist life.
