archival film footage of andy warhol at work by SFMOMA

a still from the film picturing andy warhol at work all images courtesy SFMOMA

SFMOMA has brought to light a very short film entitled ‘andy warhol at work’ which depicts the pop art icon andy warhol working with an assistant in his factory studio. the clip begins with the famed artist adjusting a massive sheet of white paper on the ground with an unidentified blonde worker. the two men are surrounded by the artist’s silk screens including the celebrated ‘campbell’s soup can (tomato)’ as they create his ‘marlon brando’, 1966 as a still from the film ‘the wild one’ created in 1953. SFMOMA’s archival film visualizes the two working side by side for a minute and two seconds in order to bring the full-length portrait of the famed american actor to life. 

‘andy warhol at work’ archival film footage showing andy warhol making a silkscreen painting, from the film andy warhol and roy lichtenstein: usa artists, 1966; collection, indiana university part of making sense of modern art mobile, SFMOMA’s handheld multimedia tour courtesy of SFMOMA

the artist and his assistant grip the fill blade to move the paint across the silk screen

warhol appears to quickly dictate directions to his factory worker

both warhol and his assistant hold the fill blade– his assistant outfitted with rubber gloves, while warhol works without

warhol looks back at the work in progress

a detailed view of the finished marlon brando screen print