by Shiona Herbert
Warhol is just as famous for his quirky and unusual personality as he is for his iconic artwork.
There are two especially interesting things about Andy: he loved his pets, and he wore wigs… and he had a LOT of both!
You may not know it, but Warhol lived with his mother and lots of cats. Yes, domestic cats! Andy and his mom even published 2 books full of cat illustrations. You can see them here and here.
Later on in his career, Warhol developed a lucrative business making Pop Art portraits of people’s pets.
Have you taken photographs of your pets?
Have you ever taken the time to draw them? (If they stay still for long enough.)
Spending more time at home in the current circumstances gives you the chance to study the form, color, and even texture of your fury friends. Sketching them or photographing them is a fun way to highlight how important they are to your family. You could even make a little a little art gallery of the images and drawings that you record of them.
If you don’t have any pets, you might choose a favorite character from a book or movie, and make art featuring them!
Andy Warhol’s nephew James Warhola wrote a book about the many cats living in his famous Uncle’s New York Apartment: Uncle Andy’s Cats. It’s apparent from the story that the cats loved sleeping in Warhol’s wig drawer! (Where do your pets sleep?)
Andy Warhol’s wigs were as iconic as his Pop Art. Wearing a silver-grey wig from his 30’s through to his late 50’s gave Warhol an ‘ageless’ quality. They were even the feature of his last 1986 portraiture exhibition before his death in 1987: the Fright Wig Self-Portraits.
Interestingly, Warhol’s wigs are archived at the Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, three of which have been put on display this month at TATE Modern. But while we’re stationed at home, hold an Art Party in your living room and play ‘Pin the wig on the Warhol.’ Same rules apply as ‘Pin the tail on the donkey,’ but instead, place an unruly wig on an image of Andy Warhol’s face. Decorate a wig template, or come up with a totally original design.
(I wonder how your pet would feel about having a Warhol Wig stuck gently on them?)
More to Explore!
Want to learn more about Pop Artist Andy Warhol? Check out our Warhol Guide!
Enjoyed the Pin the Wig on the Warhol Game? Here’s another one featuring Picasso!
Try this extra fun activity after you’ve played Pin the wig on the Warhol…
Pet Pop Art
1. Take a photo of your pet.
2. Hop onto the PhotoFunia site.
3. Type ‘Warhol’ or ‘Pop Art’ into the Search bar and you’ll be given access to ‘pop art treatments’ that can turn an existing photo or saved Google image into an incredible work of Pop Art, complete with people looking at it in an art gallery setting!
Have fun learning about Andy Warhol and playing with Pop Art… and hop over to our Facebook group to chat about your art explorations and share photos of your kids masterpieces!!
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