Source of images: www.instagram.com/palp_pontedera
10 May 2022 – It’s the news of the day picked up by international media: a silkscreen print by renowned artist Andy Warhol - portrait of Marilyn Monroe "Shot Sage Blue Marilyn" (1964) - was auctioned off at Christie's for $195 million, setting two precedents in the world of art and collecting. It is the highest price ever paid at auction for an American artist’s work and it broke the record for a twentieth-century work that had previously been held by Pablo Picasso’s "Les Femmes d'Alger (Version 'O')" (179.4 million in 2015). The image of Marilyn is taken from a promotional photo shot for the film "Niagara": Andy Warhol transformed the portrait into a pop icon.
Image source, Christies’s:
www.christies.com/features/warhol-shot-marilyn-12161-7.aspx
But there are other works by Warhol dedicated to the American actress that can be admired. Where? The right place is the must-see exhibit, “ANDY WARHOL. ICONS!” at the PALP-Palazzo Pretorio in Pontedera (province of Pisa, Tuscany, Italy) which opened in November and, in view of its great success, extended to 26 June 2022. The exhibit is curated by Nicolas Ballario and Edoardo Falcioni and it was born out of the collection of Eugenio Falcioni (an intriguing story of passion for modern art and the “fatal” encounter with Warhol in 1987, narrated at the opening of the exhibit. There is also a nice introductory video dedicated to the artist’s life). Wide visited the exhibit and here is a taste of images and emotions, section by section, along 140 of Warhol’s works, from the early sixties to the eighties, which tell the tale of his professional path as photographer, director, designer, illustrator, and “father” of Pop Art.
FAME. Celebrities and Hollywood legends, from Marilyn Monroe to Liz Taylor, with the “Italian Portraits” (’70s and ’80s) of the great fashion designers, from Giorgio Armani to Valentino.
STILL LIFE. Among the other works dedicated to “objects”, the section includes the series of silkscreen prints featuring the tins of Campbell’s Soup commonly found on the shelves of American grocery stores. Turned into expensive and popular works of art.
GAZE. The designs and covers of Interview, the magazine dedicated to celebrities - Warhol’s true fixation.
WORLD’S LIFE. Politicians and the interest for the Earth and animals, and protecting them, among flowers and… cows.
DAILY. Portraits of the powerful and celebrities, but also of common people. Frequenting the Warhol “Factory” and being the subject of one of his works provided a highly sought-after status.
MUSIC. Warhol was also manager of the Velvet Underground. The section is rich with album covers, memorabilia, and portraits of musicians.
ON DISPLAY, FOUR PORTRAITS OF ANDY WARHOL DONE BY OLIVIERO TOSCANI.
INFO PALP-PONTEDERA: www.palp-pontedera.it/?lang=en
ALSO READ THE PREVIOUS ARTICLE:
wide.piaggiogroup.com/en/articles/events/must-see-andy-warhol-icons-exhibit-at-the-palp-palazzo-pretorio-in-pontedera-tuscany
