Andy Warhol never lived in Chicago, but his work has found its way to the city with increasing frequency over the past few years, as local art museums continue to add pieces by the artist to their permanent collections. As one of the leaders of the Pop Art movement, Warhol's depictions of soup cans and colorful celebrity portraits have become pop culture icons in their own right. This winter, there's more of Warhol's work to see in Chicago than ever before. We tracked down all the exhibitions you need to check out to get your Pop Art fix.
"The Andy Archetype: Works from the Permanent Collection"
DePaul University boasts a sizable collection of Andy Warhol's original photographs and Polaroids, a gift from the Warhol Foundation that the DePaul Art Museum showcased in 2012's "Andy Warhol: Photographs" exhibit. The museum's latest exhibit brings back some of the best photos from that collection, in addition to some of Warhol's silkscreen prints ("$1," 1982; "Diamond Dust Shoes," 1980) from DePaul's permanent collection. Surrounded by pieces by contemporaries such as Phillip Pearlstein and Ralph Arnold, "The Andy Archetype" demonstrates how Warhol influenced and was informed by other Pop Art purveyors. DePaul Art Museum. Closes Dec 20.
Earlier this year, the Art Institute of Chicago received its largest gift to date: A collection of 44 contemporary artworks, including pieces by Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein and Jasper Johns. These donations populate "The New Contemporary," a new permanent exhibition that puts the spotlight on the museum's contemporary art collection. You'll find some classic Warhol pieces among the new additions, including a portrait of Liz Taylor ("Liz #3," 1963), a reinterpretation of the Mona Lisa ("Mona Lisa Four Times," 1978) and an intimate self-portrait of Warhol himself ("Self-Portrait," 1966). Art Institute of Chicago. Opens Dec 13.
“The Street, the Store, and the Silver Screen: Pop Art from the MCA Collection”
Presented in conjunction with the Museum of Contemporary Art's "Pop Art Design" exhibition, Warhol's work is highlighted in this collection of ’60s and ’70s Pop Art. From iconic works such as a colorful Campbell's soup can ("Campbell’s Soup Cans II," 1969) to a mesmerizing screen print of ’50s heartthrob Troy Donahue ("Troy Diptych," 1962), this exhibition places Warhol's art among like-minded artists such as Ed Ruscha, Wolf Vostell and Ed Paschke. Museum of Contemporary Art. Dec 19–Mar 27.
To mark its 40th birthday, the Museum of Contemporary Photography opens up its vaults and displays a variety of key pieces from its collection, including several photographs taken by Andy Warhol. Visitors will also find photos by photographers such as Diane Arbus, Roy DeCarava, Walker Evans and Sally Mann lining the walls, in addition to exhibitions that explore the photographic process and showcase work by budding Midwestern talent. Museum of Contemporary Photography. Jan 28–Apr 10.