Most Talked-About Controversies Linked to Andy Warhol

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: March 26, 2025

Controversies are a part of history. Explore the biggest scandals linked to Andy Warhol.

Andy Warhol (1928-1987) was a pivotal American artist, film director, and producer, renowned as a leading figure in the Pop Art movement. His work examined the intersection of art, advertising, and celebrity, utilizing diverse media like painting, sculpture, photography, and film. Notable creations include 'Campbell's Soup Cans' and 'Marilyn Diptych,' alongside experimental films like 'Chelsea Girls.' Warhol's multimedia events, such as the Exploding Plastic Inevitable, and his involvement in the erotic film 'Blue Movie' highlight his influential role in shaping artistic and cultural landscapes of the 20th century.

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Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Controversies & Scandals Legacy & Impact

1967: Marilyn Monroe Unauthorized Reproduction

In 1967, the most famous unauthorized reproductions of Andy Warhol work are the Marilyn Monroe portfolio screenprints from "Sunday B Morning."

June 3, 1968: Shooting at The Factory

On June 3, 1968, Valerie Solanas, a radical feminist writer, shot Andy Warhol and Mario Amaya at The Factory. Warhol was seriously wounded and hospitalized for nearly two months. Solanas was later diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia and sentenced to three years in prison.

1970: Sunday B Morning Screenprints

In 1970, screens and film matrixes used to produce original Warhol works in the 1960s were taken to Europe for the production of Warhol screenprints under the name "Sunday B Morning." Unauthorized versions were later produced.

December 1977: Oxidations Series Begins

In December 1977, Andy Warhol began the Oxidations series, initially using his own urine to prime canvases with copper-based paint, later employing others for this purpose.

1977: Studio 54 and Torso Series

In 1977, Andy Warhol socialized at Studio 54 and began taking nude photographs of men for the Torsos and Sex Parts series, which caused tension with Jed Johnson.

November 1979: Exhibition of Portraits of the '70s

In November 1979, the Whitney Museum of American Art mounted the exhibition Andy Warhol: Portraits of the '70s, celebrating the celebrity of the decade.