ART IS EVERYWHERE

Readers can explore just what makes art art with Andy Warhol.

A fictional Andy Warhol discusses career highlights as he introduces readers to the existential question “What is art?” The story unfolds in a nonlinear fashion with loose-lined illustrations of Warhol’s life. Early on the artist asks readers: “What does a real artist look like anyway?” From there, the story veers from career highlight to career highlight, hitting the Campbell’s Soup series, the Marilyn Monroe silkscreens, the Velvet Underground (not mentioned by name), and Interview magazine. Along the way, the fictional Andy challenges readers to consider the paradigms of fame, art, and celebrity. It’s a cool challenge, but it’s also one that may be a little too hip and a little too glib for readers. Like the real Warhol, the book drops names without explanation and then flits on to a different topic as if it’s a little bored with the old one. The short, blasé sentences and questions to readers that assume answers combine into a slightly condescending tone that might be very Warhol but isn’t very engaging in a biography section. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

Andy Warhol once said, “I am a deeply superficial person,” and he sure comes across that way.