Andy Warhol

by Robert Shore

King of Pop Art Andy Warhol is one of the greatest artists of all time. Rarely venturing into public without his camera and tape recorder, Warhol was a great observer and documentarist of the American social scene.

Somewhere within the iconic images, carefully-made personae, star-studded milieu, million-dollar price tags and famous quotes lies the real Andy Warhol. But who was he?

With Andy Warhol ,Robert Shore unfolds the multi-dimensional Warhol, dissecting his existence as undisputed art-world hotshot, recreating the amazing circle that surrounded him, and tracing his path to stardom back through his early career and his awkward and unusual youth. After Warhol, nothing would be the same - he changed art forever. Find out how with his remarkable story.

'Lives of the Artists' is a new series of brief artists biographies from Laurence King Publishing. The series takes as its inspiration Giorgio Vasari's five-hundred-year-old masterwork, updating it with modern takes on the lives of key artists past and present. Focusing on the life of the artist rather than examining their work, each book also includes key images illustrating the artist's life.

128 pages, Hardcover

Published March 3, 2020

About the author

Robert Shore is a journalist, author and playwright. He is the editor of Elephant Magazine, a quarterly magazine on contemporary art and visual culture. He lives with his wife and young son, and is from Mansfield, in the Midlands.

Reviews

[Keith Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

As long as you go into this book expecting lots of gossip -- because that was an essential part of Warhol's life and aesthetic -- you'll find the book fun. Shore is also pretty good about putting the whole move to Pop Art in a theoretical and historical context. And it's easy to read. One of those little books that gives a lot of information easily.

This is part of what will be a series of lives of artists. "Lives of the Artists" by Lawrence King Publishers. It looks as if they didn't want to pay to reprint much of the art, and I'll look to see if that changes in some of the other books. But I have hopes for the series.

[Tyler Aberle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay, the book was well done, I felt. But changed my perspective on Warhol more than anticipated, not as an artist, but as a person, a bit, and made me realize more closely the reason behind "why" he did things... Even if he didn't ever admit it!

He is "glacially impassive" in emotion, insight to his work, and what he showed the world... Even though there was a crazy amount that HAD to be going on. Feels, a bit shocking for someone who impacted so many, and potentially took advantage of the context/people he was around. EOD, he did something new and started movements... Which you have to acknowledge and respect!

[Hariklia Heristanidis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have about 20 book by or about Warhol but could not resist this little hard-covered book. It’s beautifully produced with some nice photos and it covers the life of Andy very well.
I’ve a feeling the subject would have approved as well. From the cover illustration to the bright yellow binding. Everything is covered in succinct detail, from his childhood to art school, NY, success, film making, the parties and the Velvet Underground.

[Aran Cook · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great, succinct time line of the life of Andy Warhol. A man who took art, ripped it up, and spat it back out again so that we'd never look at it the same

Highly recommend, the hardback is gorgeous too if you're looking for a gift for someone

[Seven Pesos · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked it. A short biography of the artist, Andy Warhol. I knew a little about Andy Warhol before reading this. Now, I think he's a bit of a self-obsessed dick and low-key abuser. Good read. I had no idea he was shot (and almost died) in the late 1960s. "SCUM" & "PIGS", lol. Very petty. Pretty eccentric man. Probably autistic. Definitely somewhere on the spectrum. I'd put money on that. Downloaded the Chelsea Girls film while reading this. That and a couple Velvet Underground albums. And for good measure, I also downloaded some Nico albums. Maybe I should also get some Bob Dylan albums. Maybe I'll buy some speed and heroin. IDK.

[avery appling · Rating 3 out of 5]

thank you andy warhol for everything you were & everything you continue to live through