Pen pals: Andy Warhol's personal letters find a new lease of life as art
Blurring the lines between art and commerce, Andy Warhol painted a portrait of America by celebrating iconic fixtures of American life. This film by Cadillac offers a rare glimpse into Warhol’s world..
It’s safe to say that Andy Warhol’s 15 minutes won’t expire any time soon. The latest evidence of the late artist’s omnipotence is a traveling exhibition titled 'Letters to Andy Warhol', centred on letters pulled from the artist’s extensive archive.
For the project, Cadillac and The Andy Warhol Museum commissioned an international group of creatives to produce new work inspired by Warhol. Reflecting the polymath artist’s prowess, the exhibition spans several mediums, from a star-packed short film by Chiara Clemente to a song composed by Warhol family friend Sean Lennon.
One of the standout works, is a large than life-sized children’s book inspired by a rejection letter Warhol received from MoMA. Referencing the artist’s early career as a fashion illustrator, the work was created by shoe designer Brian Atwood and Wallpaper* Italy editor-at-large JJ Martin. 'The whole idea was around creative redemption,' Martin explained. 'Even the most successful of us have all had terrible moments of rejection, of feeling stupid, unworthy and undesired.'
Turns out MoMA needed Warhol after all and the artist’s resilience – and ability to spin gold from the mundane – remains more prescient than ever. 'Warhol was the ultimate rebel and envelope pusher,' says Martin. 'I think he resounds so well with creative types because he was such a champion of creators and artists. He understood their needs. Warhol is still so modern today. Can you imagine what he would have done on social media?'
Following its New York showing at Cadillac House, the exhibition will travel to Los Angeles in mid-January for display at the 101/Exhibit Gallery and then to Miami in early February before embarking on a global tour through early 2018.
Recently launched in New York at Cadillac's exhibition space, the exhibition 'Letters to Andy Warhol' explores the artist's personal correspondance
A red 1959 Eldorado Biarritz is one of the heritage Cadillac vehicles on view as part of the show.
A detail of Yves Saint Laurent’s haiku-like letter to Warhol. Cadillac and The Andy Warhol Museum invited creatives to create artworks inspired by his personal letters
Shoe designer Brian Atwood and Wallpaper* editor-at-large JJ Martin teamed up on a larger-than-life children’s book inspired by a rejection letter Warhol received from MoMA.
Derek Blasberg paid tribute to Warhol’s use of Polaroid with his own selection of instant portraits
INFORMATION
’Letters to Andy Warhol’ is on view at Cadillac House until 26 December. For more information, visit the Cadillac website and the Andy Warhol Museum website
ADDRESS
Cadillac House
330 Hudson St
New York, NY 10013
Receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox.
-
Italy’s most famous recipe book gets a revamp for its latest edition
‘Il Cucchiaio d'Argento’, or ‘The Silver Spoon’, is Italy's best-known recipe book: artist Olimpia Zagnoli and cultural design studio Bunker collaborated on a new look for its latest edition
-
Messika marks 20 years with a high jewellery collection inspired by Namibia
The Terres d’Instinct high jewellery collection, unveiled at Paris Fashion Week, is a riot of colour and bold forms
-
2025 Lisbon Architecture Triennale ponders the (literal and figurative) weight of humanity
Join us on a tour of the 2025 Lisbon Architecture Triennale, exploring the question ‘How Heavy is the City?’ and our impact on the planet
-
Out of office: the Wallpaper* editors’ picks of the week
As we approach Frieze, our editors have been trawling the capital's galleries. Elsewhere: a 'Wineglass' marathon, a must-see film, and a visit to a science museum
-
June Leaf’s New York survey captures a life in motion
June Leaf made art in many forms for over seven decades, with an unstoppable energy and fierce appetite leading her to rationalise life in her own terms.
-
Jamel Shabazz’s photographs are a love letter to Prospect Park
In a new book, ‘Prospect Park: Photographs of a Brooklyn Oasis, 1980 to 2025’, Jamel Shabazz discovers a warmer side of human nature
-
The Hammer Museum in Los Angeles launches the seventh iteration of its highly anticipated artist biennial
One of the gallery's flagship exhibitions, Made in LA showcases the breadth and depth of the city's contemporary art scene
-
Inside a Courtney Love-inspired art exhibition in New York
Liza Jo Eilers looks to the glory days of Hole at an exhibition at Grimm New York
-
Thomas Prior’s photography captures the uncanny fragility of American life
A new book unites two decades of the photographer’s piercing, uneasy work
-
Apple unveils its next-gen camera in a powerful new photography exhibition
The new iPhone 17 Pro Max takes centre stage in a New York exhibition where artists Inez & Vinoodh, Mickalene Thomas, and Trunk Xu explore the theme of joy
-
Central Park’s revitalised Delacorte Theater gears up for a new future
Ennead Architects helmed an ambitious renovation process that has given the New York City cultural landmark a vibrant and more accessible future