NEW ANDY WARHOL EXHIBITION AT LIGHTBOX GALLERY IN WOKING
This summer, Lightbox Gallery presents an exhibition featuring major works by Pop Art icon Andy Warhol, in partnership with Tate and National Galleries of Scotland. Significantly, it will be the first time that many of these works have been shown in Surrey.
This solo exhibition, showcasing around 100 works by the internationally renowned American artist, spans two floors and features some of Warhol’s most significant artworks. The exhibition is drawn from ARTIST ROOMS, a national touring collection jointly owned by Tate and National Galleries of Scotland. The exhibition offers a comprehensive exploration of Warhol’s artistic evolution and remarkable achievements in the context of post-war America through an array of paintings, screenprints, drawings and photographs. Andy Warhol (1928-1987) created some of the most iconic images of the twentieth century, securing his place as one of the most influential artists in history. As a prominent figure in the Pop Art movement, Warhol was deeply fascinated by the allure of fame, popular culture, consumerism, and mass production. His artistic prowess extended across various visual media whilst challenging preconceived notions about fine art. In doing so he blurred the lines between art and popular culture.
From early studies in the 1940s to his work with leading magazines and major brands in the 1950s, this exhibition explores how Warhol successfully combined commercial illustration with fine art. The evolution of his signature style through the 1960s and 1970s is reflected in his obsession with famous icons, advertising and media culture. The exhibition features Warhol’s iconic 1967 screenprint portraits of Marilyn Monroe, alongside striking posters of Elizabeth Taylor, The Beatles and many more. Beyond his role as an observer of celebrity culture, Warhol also recognised the significance of fellow artists and photographers in the art world, as seen in his important portrait paintings of Gilbert & George (1975), Joseph Beuys (1980), and Robert Mapplethorpe (1983).
The first-floor gallery will display the vibrant impact of Warhol’s super-sized works, while the second-floor gallery provides an intimate look at rarely displayed drawings and photographs, offering a deeper insight into his artistic process. Andy Warhol also explores the artist’s confrontation with his own mortality following his near-fatal shooting in 1968. This exhibition highlights works that incorporate symbols of Warhol’s fixation on death, including guns, skulls, and war themes. Using Polaroid and 35mm cameras, Warhol documented the fleeting world around him, capturing candid self-portraits as well as images of friends and celebrities, offering a personal insight into his life as he sought to preserve moments and people in defiance of time’s passage.
“We are delighted to continue our commitment to making extraordinary art accessible to our audiences”, says Sarah Brown, Director at Lightbox Gallery. “We have a proud tradition of bringing world-class art to Surrey, from our 2011 British Pop Art exhibition to Warhol and the World of Pop Art in 2015. A decade after our last Warhol show, we are thrilled to welcome his work back to the gallery, reaffirming his enduring influence on contemporary culture. Warhol’s work remains as vibrant and thought-provoking as ever, and this exhibition offers a fresh opportunity to engage with one of the most iconic artists of the 20th century.”
Ceri Lewis, Managing Curator, ARTIST ROOMS at Tate & National Galleries of Scotland says: “Popularly radical and radically popular, Andy Warhol remains one of the most recognised artists in the world. An ‘art star’ who redefined what art could be, he continues to hold an enduring fascination. Across his career, Warhol held up a mirror to aspects of 20th century America at a time of social and political change, both celebrating and critiquing its ideals. We’re delighted that this collaboration with Lightbox Gallery is a chance for audiences to discover this most contemporary of artists, with a substantial exhibition spanning his career, from rarely seen early drawings to late ‘stitched photographs’, alongside iconic Pop works and celebrated portraits. ARTIST ROOMS is all about bringing great art to towns and cities across the UK. It’s through partnerships with regional museums and galleries such as Lightbox Gallery that we can enable wider access and ensure more people can experience the world-class international art in our national collections.”
