As The Andy Warhol Museum celebrates its 25th anniversary this October, Pittsburgh audiences and out-of-town guests will find a museum on a different trajectory than when they last visited. The Warhol has found renewed energy through activities such as creating paid internships for young people, an important step in leveling the museum playing field across socioeconomic status; diversifying the museum’s advisory board; and reclaiming the mantle of Warhol scholarship. All of our work embraces the life, art, and legacy of Andy Warhol, which brings resonance and authenticity to everything we do.
The marquee exhibition launching our anniversary festivities is Andy Warhol: Revelation. Curated by The Warhol’s José Diaz, Revelation is the first exhibition to exclusively look at the influence of Warhol’s Byzantine Catholic faith on his artistic career. The decision to mount this exhibition was driven both by Warhol scholarship and by Pittsburgh itself. One need only drive through Pittsburgh to see the intertwined stories of immigration, faith, and industry that shaped our city and the lives of the Warhola family when Andy was growing up here.
It is important, as Pittsburgh looks to its promising future, that we not forget our past. That past includes hard-working immigrant families like the Warholas.
The Warhol has an extraordinary opportunity to not only showcase the most important collection of Warhol’s art and archival objects in the world, but to present them in the context of Pittsburgh. We will continue to tell stories of relevance to our community through these beautiful works of art entrusted to us. It is important, as Pittsburgh looks to its promising future, that we not forget our past. That past includes hardworking immigrant families like the Warholas, who came here with little more than their faith, their ethnic traditions, and their love of one another. What a joy that a member of one of those families went on to become Andy Warhol, and that his work helps illuminate that story.
When you visit The Warhol next, you will find the building and its surrounding campus refreshed. Consider this a physical reflection of our thinking about how we can best interact with you, our community. Together we’ll ask, what are the parts of Warhol’s life story that still inspire young people? How can we be a catalyst to the revitalization of our North Shore community and Pittsburgh as a whole?
The Warhol’s continual state of transformation is linked to our community and our namesake. Here’s to another 25 years of change.
Patrick Moore
Director, The Andy Warhol Museum
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