Career Timeline of Andy Warhol: Major Achievements and Milestones
Discover the career path of Andy Warhol, from the first major opportunity to industry-changing achievements.
Andy Warhol, a pivotal figure in the pop art movement, was an American visual artist, film director, and producer whose work redefined the relationship between art, advertising, and celebrity culture. Emerging in the 1960s, Warhol's diverse creations spanned painting, sculpture, photography, and filmmaking. Iconic works like 'Campbell's Soup Cans' and 'Marilyn Diptych,' alongside experimental films such as 'Chelsea Girls' and the provocative 'Blue Movie,' solidified his influence. His multimedia events, 'Exploding Plastic Inevitable,' further showcased his innovative approach, establishing him as a leading artist of the 20th century.
1948: Art Director of Cano
In 1948, Warhol served as art director of the student art magazine, Cano, illustrating a cover.
1949: Graduation from Carnegie Institute of Technology
In 1949, Warhol earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in pictorial design and moved to New York City to begin a career in magazine illustration and advertising.
1949: First Commission for Glamour Magazine
In 1949, Warhol's early career was dedicated to commercial and advertising art, where his first commission had been to draw shoes for Glamour magazine.
1952: First Solo Show
In 1952, Alexander Iolas is credited with discovering Andy Warhol, and he organized Warhol's first solo show at the Hugo Gallery in New York.
1954: Publication of 25 Cats Name Sam and One Blue Pussy
In 1954, Andy Warhol self-published his first bound book, 25 Cats Name Sam and One Blue Pussy, using his blotted line technique. The original edition was limited to 190 numbered, hand-colored copies given as gifts.
1955: Warhol designs album cover for I'm Still Swinging
In 1955, Andy Warhol designed the album cover for I'm Still Swinging by The Joe Newman Octet.
1955: Publication of A La Recherche du Shoe Perdu
In 1955, Andy Warhol's book A La Recherche du Shoe Perdu was published, marking his "transition from commercial to gallery artist".
1955: Designing Advertisements for Israel Miller
In 1955, Warhol began designing advertisements for shoe manufacturer Israel Miller and developed his "blotted line" technique, applying ink to paper and then blotting the ink while still wet.
1956: Sketching Ornate Footwear
In 1956, Warhol began to sketch ornate footwear as a hobby. He designed whimsical shoes that were embellished with gold leaf.
1956: First Group Exhibition and World Travel
In 1956, Warhol was included in his first group exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art, New York, and traveled around the world with his friend, production designer Charles Lisanby, studying art and culture.
1957: Exhibition at the Bodley Gallery
In 1957, Warhol exhibited whimsical shoes at the Bodley Gallery in New York, selling them for $50 to $225 apiece.
1958: Warhol designs album cover for Blue Lights, Vols. 1 & 2
In 1958, Andy Warhol designed the album cover for Blue Lights, Vols. 1 & 2 by Kenny Burrell.
1958: Design for The Immortal Book Cover
In 1958, Warhol used Wallowitch's photograph Young Man Smoking a Cigarette (c. 1956) for a design for a book cover he submitted to Simon and Schuster for the Walter Ross pulp novel The Immortal.
April 1961: First Pop Art Paintings Displayed
In April 1961, Warhol's first pop art paintings were displayed as a backdrop for a window display at New York Department Store Bonwit Teller.
November 23, 1961: Payment for Soup Can Idea
On November 23, 1961, Warhol paid Muriel Latow $50 for the idea of painting soup cans.
1961: Purchase of Townhouse and Art Studio
In 1961, Warhol purchased a townhouse at 1342 Lexington Avenue in Carnegie Hill, which he used as his art studio.
May 1962: Featured in Time Magazine
In May 1962, Warhol was featured in an article in Time with his painting Big Campbell's Soup Can with Can Opener (Vegetable).
July 9, 1962: Exhibition at the Ferus Gallery
On July 9, 1962, Warhol's exhibition opened at the Ferus Gallery in Los Angeles with Campbell's Soup Cans, marking his West Coast debut of pop art.
July 1962: Exhibition at the Wadsworth Atheneum
In July 1962, Warhol's painting Big Campbell's Soup Can with Can Opener (Vegetable) was exhibited at the Wadsworth Atheneum in Hartford.
November 1962: Exhibition at Eleanor Ward's Stable Gallery
In November 1962, Warhol had an exhibition at Eleanor Ward's Stable Gallery in New York, which included works like Gold Marilyn, Marilyn Diptych, and 100 Soup Cans.
December 1962: Pop Art Symposium at MoMA
In December 1962, New York City's Museum of Modern Art hosted a symposium on pop art, where artists such as Warhol were attacked for "capitulating" to consumerism.
1962: Inspiration for Static Films
In 1962, Warhol attended the premiere of La Monte Young's Trio for Strings, inspiring his series of static films.
1962: Marilyn Series Creation
In 1962, Warhol created his famous Marilyn series, including Flavor Marilyns named after candy flavors.
1962: Creation of Iconic Works
In 1962, Warhol created some of his best-known works, including the silkscreen paintings "Campbell's Soup Cans" and "Marilyn Diptych."
1962: Campbell's Soup Can With Peeling Label Painted
In 1962, Warhol painted Campbell's Soup Can With Peeling Label.
1962: Diverse Subject Matter and Techniques
In 1962, Warhol produced both comic and serious works, using silkscreens and bright colors to depict celebrities, everyday objects, and disaster images.
1962: Learning Silkscreen Printmaking
In 1962, Warhol was taught silkscreen printmaking techniques by Max Arthur Cohn, which became a significant part of his artistic process.
1962: Lemon Marilyn Painting
Lemon Marilyn, which would later sell for $28 million in May 2007, was painted in 1962.
1962: Men in Her Life and Coca-Cola (4) Painted
Men in Her Life and Coca-Cola (4), which would later sell for significant amounts in November 2010, were created in 1962.
1962: White Marilyn and Big Campbell's Soup Can Painted
White Marilyn and Big Campbell's Soup Can, which would later sell for significant amounts in May 2014 and May 2017 respectively, were painted in 1962.
January 1963: Renting First Studio and Creating Elvis Series
In January 1963, Warhol rented his first studio at 159 East 87th Street and created his Elvis series, including Eight Elvises (1963) and Triple Elvis (1963).
1963: Underground Film Production Begins
Beginning in 1963, Warhol made over 600 underground films, including short screen tests of Factory visitors, until 1968.
1963: Green Car Crash Painting
Green Car Crash, which would later sell for $71.1 million in May 2007, was painted in 1963.
1963: Eight Elvises Exhibited
In 1963, Eight Elvises was first exhibited at the Ferus Gallery in Los Angeles.
1963: Creation of Silver Car Crash
In 1963, Warhol created Silver Car Crash (Double Disaster) which would later sell for $105 million in 2013.
1963: Formation of The Druds
In 1963, Warhol formed The Druds, a short-lived avant-garde noise band that included notable figures from the New York minimal art and proto-conceptual art scenes.
1963: Ethel Scull 36 Times Commission
In 1963, Warhol's first commissioned portrait, Ethel Scull 36 Times, was created for Robert and Ethel Scull.
1963: Liz (Colored Liz) Painting
Liz (Colored Liz), which would later sell for $23.7 million in 2007, was painted in 1963.
1963: Silver Liz (diptych) Painted
Silver Liz (diptych), which would later sell for $28 million in May 2015, was painted in 1963.
1963: First Self-Portrait
Warhol's first self-portrait was created from 1963 to 1964 and would sell for $38.4 million in May 2011.
November 1964: First Flowers Series Exhibition
In November 1964, Warhol's first Flowers series was exhibited at the Leo Castelli Gallery in New York.
1964: Warhol designs album cover for This Is John Wallowitch!!!
In 1964, Andy Warhol designed the album cover for This Is John Wallowitch!!! by John Wallowitch.
1964: Warhol produces Batman Dracula
In 1964, Andy Warhol produced and directed the film Batman Dracula, an "homage" to the Batman series, without permission from DC Comics. It was screened only at his art exhibits and is considered the first appearance of a blatantly campy Batman.
1964: Creation of Shot Sage Blue Marilyn
In 1964, Warhol created Shot Sage Blue Marilyn, which would later sell for $195 million in 2022.
1964: Early Experimental Films
In 1964, Warhol created several experimental films, including Sleep, Kiss, Eat, and Blow Job, focusing on mundane, drawn-out actions.
1964: The American Supermarket Exhibition
In late 1964, The American Supermarket exhibition occurred at Paul Bianchini's Upper East Side gallery, featuring art created by pop artists.
1964: Second Exhibition at the Stable Gallery
In the spring of 1964, Warhol had his second exhibition at the Stable Gallery, featuring sculptures of commercial boxes. These sculptures sold for $200 to $400 depending on the size of the box.
1964: Orange Marilyn Painting
Orange Marilyn, which would later sell for $17.3 million in 1998, was painted in 1964.
1964: Self-Portrait, 1964
Self-Portrait, 1964 was an original work by Warhol, that was later included in a commemorative stamp.
1964: Shot Sage Blue Marilyn and Four Marlons Painted
Shot Sage Blue Marilyn and Four Marlons, which would later sell for significant amounts in May 2022 and November 2014 respectively, were painted in 1964.
May 1965: Second Flowers Series and Retirement Announcement
In May 1965, Warhol's second Flowers series was shown at Galerie Ileana Sonnabend in Paris, and he announced his retirement from painting to focus on film during this trip.
1965: Management of The Velvet Underground
Around the end of 1965, The Velvet Underground was taken on by Warhol.
1965: Warhol and Edie Sedgwick on The Merv Griffin Show
In 1965, Andy Warhol and his muse Edie Sedgwick appeared on The Merv Griffin Show, discussing Pop Art.
1965: Warhol releases Empire and Vinyl
In 1965, Andy Warhol released the eight-hour film Empire, depicting the Empire State Building. He also released Vinyl in 1965, an adaptation of Anthony Burgess' novel A Clockwork Orange. Warhol also recorded films of improvised encounters between Factory regulars.
April 1966: Cow Wallpaper Exhibition
In April 1966, Warhol exhibited Cow Wallpaper, which covered the walls of the Leo Castelli Gallery.
1966: Warhol produces The Velvet Underground & Nico
In 1966, Andy Warhol "produced" The Velvet Underground's first album, The Velvet Underground & Nico, and provided the album art. His actual participation in the album's production amounted to simply paying for the studio time.
1966: Release of Chelsea Girls
In 1966, Andy Warhol's most popular and critically successful film, Chelsea Girls, was released. It was the first underground film of the 1960s to reach widespread popularity. The innovative film consisted of two 16 mm-films being projected simultaneously.
1966: Exploding Plastic Inevitable Performances
In 1966, Warhol included The Velvet Underground as a key component of his Exploding Plastic Inevitable multimedia performances.
1966: Experimental Film and Multimedia Events
In 1966, Warhol released the experimental film "Chelsea Girls" and created multimedia events known as the "Exploding Plastic Inevitable."
1967: Appearance in I, a Man
In 1967, Valerie Solanas appeared in the Warhol film I, a Man. Before the shooting, she had been a marginal figure in the Factory scene.
1967: Establishment of Factory Additions
In 1967, Warhol established Factory Additions for his printmaking and publishing enterprise.
1967: Exploding Plastic Inevitable Performances
In 1967, Warhol included The Velvet Underground as a key component of his Exploding Plastic Inevitable multimedia performances and funded their debut album.
1967: Chelsea Girls at Cannes Film Festival
In 1967, Warhol intended to present the film Chelsea Girls (1966) at the Cannes Film Festival, but it wasn't shown due to technical problems.
1967: Warhol fired by The Velvet Underground
In 1967, following disagreements about the band's direction, Andy Warhol was fired as manager of The Velvet Underground.
1967: Marilyn Monroe Portfolio Screenprints
In 1967, the most famous unauthorized reproductions are Marilyn Monroe portfolio screenprints.
February 1968: First Solo Museum Exhibition
In February 1968, Warhol's first solo museum exhibition was mounted at the Moderna Museet in Stockholm.
1968: Underground Film Production Ends
Beginning in 1963, Warhol made over 600 underground films, including short screen tests of Factory visitors, until 1968.
1968: Paul Morrissey takes over filmmaking chores for the Factory collective
In 1968, following the shooting of Andy Warhol, his assistant director, Paul Morrissey, took over most of the film-making chores for the Factory collective, steering Warhol-branded cinema towards more mainstream B-movie exploitation fare with Flesh (1968).
1969: Movie Deal Discussions and Photography
In 1969, Andy Warhol traveled to Los Angeles to discuss a movie deal with Columbia Pictures. Also in 1969, some of his photographs were published in Esquire magazine.
1969: Warhol in Braniff International commercials
In 1969, Andy Warhol was commissioned by Braniff International to appear in two television commercials to promote their "When You Got It – Flaunt It" campaign, pairing with Sonny Liston.
1969: Release of Blue Movie
In 1969, Andy Warhol's last film as director, Blue Movie, was released. The film, featuring Viva and Louis Waldon, was controversial at the time for its frank approach to a sexual encounter, becoming a seminal film in the Golden Age of Porn.
1969: The Velvet Underground Record "Andy's Chest"
In 1969, The Velvet Underground originally recorded the song "Andy's Chest" in response to the attempted assassination of Andy Warhol.
1969: Founded Interview Magazine
In late 1969, Andy Warhol and British journalist John Wilcock founded Interview magazine, initially titled inter/VIEW: A Monthly Film Journal.
1970: Release of Trash
In 1970, Trash, a film produced by Andy Warhol's Factory collective and primarily directed by Paul Morrissey, was released.
1970: Campbell's Soup Can With Peeling Label Sale
In 1970, Warhol's painting "Campbell's Soup Can With Peeling Label" (1962) sold for $60,000, a record price for a living American artist at the time.
1970: Sunday B Morning Screenprints
In 1970, screens and film matrixes were taken to Europe for the production of Warhol screenprints under the name "Sunday B Morning", leading to unauthorized reproductions.
1970: Pasadena Art Museum Retrospective
In 1970, the Pasadena Art Museum organized a major retrospective of Andy Warhol's work, which then traveled in the United States and abroad.
May 1971: Andy Warhol's Pork Opened in New York
In May 1971, Andy Warhol's first and only theater production, Andy Warhol's Pork, opened at the La MaMa Experimental Theatre in New York.
August 1971: Andy Warhol's Pork Shown in London
In August 1971, Andy Warhol's theater production, Andy Warhol's Pork, was brought to the Roundhouse in London.
1971: Warhol designs album cover for Sticky Fingers
In 1971, Andy Warhol designed the album cover for Sticky Fingers by The Rolling Stones.
1971: Cover concept and photography for Sticky Fingers
In 1971, Andy Warhol is credited with both the cover concept and photography for The Rolling Stones' album Sticky Fingers.
1971: David Bowie records "Andy Warhol"
In 1971, David Bowie recorded a song called "Andy Warhol" for his album Hunky Dory.
1971: Retrospective Exhibited in London and New York
In 1971, the major retrospective of Andy Warhol's work was exhibited at the Tate Gallery in London and the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York.
October 1972: Work included in inaugural show
In October 1972, Andy Warhol's work was included in the inaugural show at the Art Museum of South Texas in Corpus Christi, Texas.
1972: Created Mao Zedong Portraits
Between 1972 and 1973, Andy Warhol created a series of portraits of Chinese Communist leader Mao Zedong.
1972: Warhol designs album cover for The Academy in Peril
In 1972, Andy Warhol designed the album cover for The Academy in Peril by John Cale.
1972: Release of Heat
In 1972, Heat, a film produced by Andy Warhol's Factory collective and primarily directed by Paul Morrissey, was released.
1972: Lou Reed releases "Andy's Chest"
In 1972, Lou Reed released a version of the song "Andy's Chest" on his solo album Transformer.
1973: Release of Andy Warhol's Dracula
In 1973, Andy Warhol's Dracula, a film produced by Andy Warhol's Factory collective and primarily directed by Paul Morrissey, was released.
February 1974: Mao Portraits Installed in Paris
In February 1974, some of Andy Warhol's Mao portraits were installed at the Musée Galliera in Paris.
1974: Release of Andy Warhol's Frankenstein
In 1974, Andy Warhol's Frankenstein, a film produced by Andy Warhol's Factory collective and primarily directed by Paul Morrissey, was released.
1975: Publication of The Philosophy of Andy Warhol: From A to B and Back Again
In 1975, Andy Warhol's book, The Philosophy of Andy Warhol: From A to B and Back Again, was published.
1975: Publication of "The Philosophy of Andy Warhol"
In 1975, Warhol authored "The Philosophy of Andy Warhol," adding to his literary contributions.
1976: Commissioned to Paint Jamie Wyeth's Portrait
In 1976, Andy Warhol and painter Jamie Wyeth were commissioned to paint each other's portraits by the Coe Kerr Gallery in Manhattan.
January 1977: Exhibition Opening in Kuwait
In January 1977, Andy Warhol traveled to Kuwait for the opening of his exhibition at the Dhaiat Abdulla Al Salem Gallery.
December 1977: Oxidation Series Creation
In December 1977, Warhol began his Oxidation series, using his own urine and that of others to create unique effects on copper-primed canvases.
1977: Warhol designs album cover for Love You Live
In 1977, Andy Warhol designed the album cover for Love You Live by The Rolling Stones.
1978: Initial BMW Art Car Project Request
In 1978, Warhol was initially asked to paint a BMW 320i, but the car model was changed and did not qualify for the race that year.
November 1979: Book Tour for Exposures
In November 1979, Andy Warhol embarked on a three-week book tour in the US for his book Exposures, which contained his photographs of famous friends and acquaintances.
November 1979: Whitney Exhibition Andy Warhol: Portraits of the '70s
In November 1979, the Whitney Museum of American Art mounted the exhibition Andy Warhol: Portraits of the '70s to celebrate the commercial celebrity of the '70s.
1979: Hosting "Fashion" TV Series
In 1979, Warhol began hosting the television series "Fashion," marking his foray into television.
1979: BMW Art Car Project Commission
In 1979, Warhol was commissioned to paint a BMW M1 Group 4 racing version for the BMW Art Car project, completing the painting in just 23 minutes.
1980: Founded New York Academy of Art
In 1980, Andy Warhol was among the founders of the New York Academy of Art, with the mission to revive traditional methods of training artists.
1980: Ten Portraits of Jews of the Twentieth Century
In 1980, Andy Warhol's exhibition Ten Portraits of Jews of the Twentieth Century at the Jewish Museum in Manhattan was panned by critics.
1980: Publication of "Popism: The Warhol Sixties"
In 1980, Warhol authored "Popism: The Warhol Sixties," offering insights into his experiences and the pop art movement.
January 1981: Warhol on BBC's Arena with Burroughs and Bockris
In January 1981, Andy Warhol appeared on the BBC series Arena in a scene with writers William S. Burroughs and Victor Bockris.
October 1981: Warhol Filmed Saturday Night Live segment
In October 1981, Andy Warhol filmed a segment for the sketch comedy television show Saturday Night Live.
1981: A No Man Show
In 1981, Andy Warhol worked on creating a traveling stage show called, A No Man Show, with a life-sized animatronic robot in his exact image, that would be able to read Warhol's diaries as a theatrical production.
1982: Warhol designs album cover for Silk Electric
In 1982, Andy Warhol designed the album cover for Silk Electric by Diana Ross.
1982: Portrait of Basquiat
In 1982, Warhol created a silkscreen portrait of Basquiat over an oxidized copper "piss painting."
April 1983: Warhol's Animals: Species at Risk Exhibition
In April 1983, Andy Warhol created a series of endangered species silkscreen prints for his exhibition Warhol's Animals: Species at Risk at New York City's American Museum of Natural History.
1983: Warhol in a TDK Videotape Commercial
In 1983, Andy Warhol appeared in a commercial for TDK Videotape.
1983: Created Brooklyn Bridge Centennial Poster
In 1983, Andy Warhol was commissioned to create a poster for the centennial of the Brooklyn Bridge, contributing to the 1983 New York Art Expo.
1983: Collaboration with Basquiat and Clemente
In 1983, Warhol began collaborating with Basquiat and Clemente on various art projects.
1984: Collaborative Works with Basquiat
Between 1984 and 1985, Warhol and Basquiat created a series of more than 50 large collaborative works.
1984: Warhol co-directs "Hello Again" music video
In 1984, Andy Warhol co-directed the music video "Hello Again" by The Cars, and he appeared in the video as a bartender.
1984: Warhol creates Details of Renaissance Paintings series
In 1984, Andy Warhol created the religious-themed series Details of Renaissance Paintings.
1984: Created Print for Sarajevo Winter Olympics
In 1984, Andy Warhol teamed with other artists and contributed a Speed Skater print to the Art and Sport collection for the Sarajevo Winter Olympics. The Speed Skater was used for the official Sarajevo Winter Olympics poster.
1984: Vanity Fair Commissioned Portrait of Prince
In 1984, Andy Warhol was commissioned by Vanity Fair to produce a portrait of Prince, to accompany an article that celebrated the success of Purple Rain and its accompanying movie.
1984: Commission for The Last Supper Series
In 1984, Warhol was commissioned by Alexander Iolas to create work based on Leonardo da Vinci's "The Last Supper."
1984: Triumph Wrote a Song About Andy Warhol
In 1984, the band Triumph wrote a song about Andy Warhol, "Stranger In A Strange Land" off their album Thunder Seven.
September 1985: Paintings Joint Exhibition with Basquiat
In September 1985, Andy Warhol's joint exhibition with Basquiat, Paintings, opened to negative reviews at the Tony Shafrazi Gallery.
1985: Collaborative Works with Basquiat
Between 1984 and 1985, Warhol and Basquiat created a series of more than 50 large collaborative works.
1985: Warhol in Diet Coke Commercial and The Love Boat
In 1985, Andy Warhol appeared in a Diet Coke commercial and had a guest appearance on The Love Boat.
1985: Hosting "Andy Warhol's Fifteen Minutes"
In 1985, Warhol hosted the television series "Andy Warhol's Fifteen Minutes", contributing to his presence in popular culture.
1986: Purple Self-Portrait Painted
A purple self-portrait, which later sold for $32.6 million in May 2010, was created in 1986.
1986: Warhol in Drexel Burnham Lambert Ad
In 1986, Andy Warhol appeared in an ad for the Drexel Burnham Lambert investment group.
1986: Warhol co-directs "Misfit" music video and makes a cameo
In 1986, Andy Warhol co-directed the music video "Misfit" by Curiosity Killed the Cat and he made a cameo in video.
1986: Warhol creates The Last Supper series
In 1986, Andy Warhol created The Last Supper series, making almost 100 variations on the theme.
1986: Warhol designs album cover for Aretha
In 1986, Andy Warhol designed the album cover for Aretha by Aretha Franklin.
January 1987: Last Exhibition Opening
In January 1987, Andy Warhol traveled to Milan for the opening of his last exhibition, Last Supper, at the Palazzo delle Stelline.
January 1987: The Last Supper Exhibition in Milan
In January 1987, the Milan exhibition of Warhol's "The Last Supper" series opened, marking the last exhibition for both Warhol and gallerist Alexander Iolas.
February 17, 1987: Modeled at Fashion Show
On February 17, 1987, Andy Warhol modeled with jazz musician Miles Davis for Koshin Satoh's fashion show at the Tunnel in New York City.
1987: Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts formed
In 1987, in accordance with Andy Warhol's will, the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts was formed to foster innovative artistic expression.
1992: Warhol's estate donates land to The Nature Conservancy
In 1992, Andy Warhol's estate donated 15-acres of land on his former property Eothen to The Nature Conservancy, creating The Andy Warhol Preserve.
2022: The Warhol TV streaming platform launched
In 2022, the Andy Warhol Museum announced the launch of The Warhol TV, a streaming platform that allows users to watch free museum content and rent Warhol's films.
2023: Artnet Article on Drawing Techniques
According to a 2023 Artnet article, drawing was an integral part of Warhol's practice throughout his career, pioneering the blotted line technique.
