Pittsburgh’s original pop idol hits the big screen

Pittsburgh’s very own pop idol, Andy Warhol, is the focus of the new movie Factory Girl which has opened in London this week. Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 1928, Andy Warhol made his way from a Pittsburgh working class family to an American ‘Prince of Pop’ legend.

Today, the Andy Warhol Museum, located on the north shore of Pittsburgh, is one of six museums that are a collaborative project of the Carnegie Institute, Dia Center for the Arts, and The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, which opened in 1994.

This seven-storey museum features extensive collections of Warhol’s art and archives, ranging from silkscreen prints of Marilyn Monroe to Campbell’s soup cans and Coke bottles. It provides a primary source for anyone seeking insights into contemporary art and popular culture. The museum preserves the exhibits and interprets his art collection, creating one of the most comprehensive, single artist museums in the world.

The Andy Warhol Museum is a vital forum in which diverse audiences of artists, scholars and the general public are galvanized through creative interaction with the art and life of Andy Warhol. The Warhol is ever-changing and constantly re-defining itself in relation to contemporary life, using its unique collections and dynamic, interactive programming as tools

Known as the Renaissance City, Pittsburgh has become a trendy city with its three rivers, a world-class symphony, and the famous Andy Warhol Museum. Downtown Pittsburgh reveals many architectural masterpieces and houses the Cultural District, home to five performance theatres and the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Pittsburgh Ballet and Pittsburgh Opera. Nearby, the city’s jazz legacy is preserved at Manchester Craftsmen’s Guild and various clubs.

Other Pittsburgh attractions include the Carnegie Museums of Art and Natural History, the Victorian splendour of the Frick Art & Historical Centre and the natural charms of the century-old Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Garden. Nights come alive in the Strip District, while during the day browsing the Strip’s colourful marketplace provides an opportunity to live like the locals do.

For more information visit Pennsylvania’s website visitpa.com or the Andy Warhol Museum warhol.com.