Andy Warhol  is  one of the most important and recognisable artists of the 20th century  – many of us will remember his paintings of Campbell’s Soup cans and his portrait of Marilyn Monroe.   The power of his work comes from  its concentration on fundamental human themes- the beauty and glamour of youth, fame, material culture, the passing of time and ever presence of death.  

This exhibition celebrates his new artistic vision which has seen him combine commercial processes with  fine art production.    

He challenged conventional canons in art, dismissing traditional distinctions between fine art and popular culture.   Among his innovations are  the production of silkscreen printing on canvas,  and the use of film, photography and publishing as vehicles for art. And he experimented with  performance arts as well as with  video and television. 

The gallery has been working on this unique exhibition for over five years and it includes more than 250 works borrowed from museums and private collections in the US, Canada, Europe and the Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh.

Special to the exhibition is a section focusing on the work and collaborations both Andy Warhol and Francis Bacon had with acclaimed US artist and photographer Peter Beard, provoking new thinking on the status of these two titans of the 20th century.

The exhibition is curated by Barbara Dawson, Director Hugh Lane Gallery and Michael Dempsey, Head of Exhibitions and is funded by Dublin City Council.

This event is for members only.  Booking opens on January 18th at 9.00am and closes at January 22nd at 11.30pm.  The cost is €2 per ticket.