What is Pop Art?

Pop Art is an art movement that started in the mid 1950s, but really began to flourish in the 1960’s in both Britain and America. This particular movement drew inspiration from sources in commercial and popular culture such as: advertising, television, songs, celebrities and other pieces of art. It presented a kind of challenge to the traditions of fine art by including so much imagery from popular culture.

History of Pop Art

The first use of the term happened between artists that called themselves the Independent Group (IG). Pop Art created a sense of optimism after the Second World War and also coincided with the growth of pop music. This movement was fun and young as it included multiple styles of sculpture and painting from all over the world, but what they had in common was a particular interest in mass-production, media, and culture. It is thought that Pop Art was a reaction to the imposing abstract expressionism movement alongside being an expansion on it. Pop Arts main aim was to incorporate images from popular culture and most often using irony.

Andy Warhol is probably one of the most prominent pop artists who used advertisement product logos in his work such as his Brillo Soap Box sculptures and the Campbells Soup Cans. The Brillo Boxes were one of the first artworks made in The Factory on 28th January 1964. The real boxes for Brillo pads were designed by James Harvey in 1961 who was a commercial artist and an abstract expressionist. When Harvey came across the boxes he said, “Oh my God, I designed those.”

In an interview, a reporter asked Warhol, “you’ve just copied a common item, why have you done that.” And Warhol replied, “Because it’s easier to do.”                    Warhol Interview-    https://www.youtube.com/watchv=nGGk7x6PK0Y&t=1s

The response to this particular artwork was quite controversial as many questioned if the sculptures were actually art and they were very difficult to sell. I do not enjoy these sculptures myself as I don’t believe they are actual pieces of art- someone else made it and Warhol copied completely. I understand that the Brillo pad structures bring about a conversation about the Ready-mades however it was never Warhol’s original idea, and no acknowledgement was given to the original designer.

                      Brillo Box-  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SPAV0hQe4Bk

My Marilyn, Richard Hamilton, 1965, published 1966, MoMA: Drawings and Prints

Joseph G. Mayer Foundation Fund Size: composition: 20 1/4 x 24 15/16" (51.5 x 63.3 cm); sheet: 26 3/4 x 33 3/16" (68 x 84.2 cm) Medium: Screenprint

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas, Richard Hamilton, 1967, MoMA: Drawings and Prints

Celeste and Armand Bartos Foundation Fund Size: Sheet 30 1/4 x 40 15/16" (76.8 x 104.0 cm) Comp. 22 1/8 x 33 7/8" (56.2 x 86.0 cm)(irreg.) Medium: Screenprint

The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, Richard Hamilton, 1966, MoMA: Drawings and Prints

The Joan and Lester Avnet Collection Size: 13 1/2 x 13 1/4" (34.3 x 33.5 cm) Medium: Watercolor and pencil on paper

Pin-up (1961) from Collected Words: de luxe portfolio, Richard Hamilton, 1982, MoMA: Drawings and Prints

Committee on Drawings and Prints Fund Size: composition: 13 3/4 × 10 1/16" (35 × 25.5 cm); sheet: 15 1/16 × 11 3/4" (38.3 × 29.8 cm) Medium: Collotype and screenprint from a portfolio of eight collotype and screenprints (one with collage additions, one with ink additions) and one screenprint with aerosol spray