Death Politics and Selfies: Andy Warhol Exhibition at the Whitworth

There’s just under a month left to see the Whitworth Art Gallery’s Andy Warhol exhibition.

The event is on until the 16th April and has been running since November last year. It is full of abstract work that spans over three decades of Warhol’s career.

Director of the Whitworth and Manchester City Galleries, Maria Balshaw, said: “We’re tremendously excited to have this new Andy Warhol exhibition of ARTIST ROOMS.

“Apocalyptic in tone it highlights the significance of Warhol as a visionary artist, predicting both the rise of the selfie and the failure of the American Dream.”

The exhibition coincides with the election of Donald Trump as President of the United States.

Sam Lackey, Senior Curator of the exhibition said: “It’s amazing that the exhibition has accorded with the American elections in this way.

“As I was curating the show for the past few months, it slowly became apparent that there was going to be this moment where we’d have this election and then we would share these works that are all about Warhol working through the Reagan presidency on a right wing government in America.

“Suddenly Warhol’s writings about America and how he described it and how he talks about it just seemed incredibly relevant”.

The show includes Warhol’s Electric Chair Series, his canvas Skulls set as well as his acrylic Dollar Sign.
In the late 60s, Warhol was shot by feminist author Valerie Solanas and was pronounced dead. However, when taken to hospital he was revived after receiving an open-heart massage.

Richard Avedon, an American fashion and portrait photographer, photographed Warhol’s scarred chest from the shooting in 1969. This original image will also be present.

Anthony d’Offay owns the collection and worked closely with Warhol throughout the 80s, commissioning his Self Portrait which can be seen at the gallery. He said: “I love Manchester and I enormously admire this museum. Working here and installing the show was a wonderful experience and I think we have got it right. The exhibition looks pretty good and I know Andy would have loved it too”.

The exhibition has been put together by ARTIST ROOMS, a collection of modern art donated by Anthony to the National Galleries of Scotland and the Tate gallery. Creative Scotland, Art Fund and Arts Council have supported the exhibit, working closely with ARTIST ROOMS.

Many of Warhol’s personal portraits will be able to be viewed at the gallery showing a timeline of his experimentation with his own appearance. His iconic Strangulation self-portraits will be amongst these.

To find out more about Warhol and other upcoming events at the gallery, go to www.whitworth.manchester.ac.uk