Andy Warhol 1960s

The 1960s marked a turning point in Andy Warhol’s prolific career; he gained prestige in the Pop Art movement for his paintings of mass-produced products and everyday images, including dollar bills, coca-cola bottles, soup cans, and iconic celebrities. He organized his first exhibition in 1962 at Eleanor Ward’s Stable Gallery in New York, where he displayed the first of these now-iconic artworks.

Warhol also started “The Factory” in the early 60s—a nickname for his studio. He welcomed artists from all walks of life to his creative den, from musicians to drag queens, photographers to writers, models to socialites, adult film stars to drug addicts. To this day, The Factory remains a symbol of unconventionality and transgressive artistic expression.

Warhol hired assistants to increase his productivity and output. His love for collaboration would only grow from there, as he formed countless more friendships borne of professional ambition and mutual inspiration. One of his main collaborators in the 1960s was acclaimed poet Gerard Malanga, who assisted him with the production of silkscreens, films, sculptures, and other works.

During the 1960s, Warhol rolled with an entourage of “Superstars,” an eclectic society of never-seen-before characters, misfits, and deviant personalities, who starred in his films and accompanied him to his parties. Warhol’s Superstars included Nico, Joe Dallesandro, Edie Sedgwick, Viva, Ultra Violet, Candy Darling, and many more.