Famous Artists

Francis Bacon

Years Active: 1909 – 1992
Art Movement: Abstract Expressionism
Art Medium: Painting
Famous Works: Head VI, Three Studies for Figures at the Base of a Crucifixion, The Black Triptychs

Francis Bacon is a British painter. As one of the most famous contemporary artists from the 1900s, his figurative style is very distinct. Often, the subjects of his paintings are crucifixions and portraits of real people, such as popes and his own friends. Though many found his art unsettling, Bacon argues he is merely portraying “the brutality of fact.”

Despite what his dreary paintings might suggest, Bacon was a very social figure. He often spent his nights drinking and gambling with his friends. After he passed, many believed his paintings to be lost. However, in the late 1990s, many of his artworks resurfaced. Eventually, these were auctioned off.

William Blake

Years Active: 1757 – 1827
Art Movement: Romanticism
Art Medium: Painting and printing
Famous Works: Songs of Innocence and Experience, The Ancient of Days, Pity, Isaac Newton

William Blake is a famous English poet who draws illustrations for his literary works. He called his art technique “illuminated printing.” First, he would print plates with texts and images back-to-back. Then, he adds in the details for each individual copy using watercolor.

Jonathan Jones from The Guardian called Blake the “far and away the greatest artist Britain has ever produced.” Blake also ranks 38th on BBC’s list of 100 Greatest Britons. Indeed, there is no doubt that Blake is one of the most famous artists today.

Umberto Boccioni

Years Active: 1882 – 1916
Art Movement: Italian Futurism, Cubism
Art Medium: Painting and sculpture
Famous Works: The City Rises, Young Man on a Riverbank, Riot in the Gallery, Riot

Umberto Boccioni is one of the most famous artists from Italy. In his early years as a painter, he trained under Giacomo Balla. Later on, he published a manifesto where he implored fellow Italians to embrace modernity. He wanted people to break free from tradition. Instead of painting nude subjects, Boccioni suggested they paint the modern life around them.

Later on, Boccioni also showed interest in cubism. However, he continues to patronize futurism as one of its leading artists. Unfortunately, this famous artist died at an early age. When he was twenty-three years old, he fell off his horse during his training as a soldier in World War I. The next day, he could not recover and passed away.

Sandro Botticelli

Years Active: 1445 – 1510
Art Movement: Early Renaissance
Art Medium: Painting
Famous Works: The Birth of Venus, Primavera, Mystic Nativity, Youth of Moses

Many believe The Birth of Venus to be one of the most beautiful paintings ever. Sandro Botticelli is the painter of this famous painting. Botticelli is an Italian painter who focused on painting religious imagery. In fact, you’ll find some of his most famous art pieces in churches. He has three murals in the Sistine Chapel: Temptations of Christ, Youth of Moses, and Punishment of the Sons of Corah. 

Despite being one of the most famous artists of today, Botticelli was largely ignored after his death. His traditional style did not appeal to many during the High Renaissance, and people almost forgot about him. Luckily, critics once again found value in his works during the 19th century.

Michelangelo Buonarroti

Years Active: 1475 – 1564
Art Movement: High Renaissance
Art Medium: Painting, sculpture, and architecture
Famous Works: Pietà, David, Moses, The Last Judgment

If you ask someone about famous artists, chances are they’ll mention Michelangelo. As a sculptor, painter, architect, and poet, many believe him to be the “Renaissance man.” His unrivaled skill and versatility in different art forms are why so many call him the greatest artist of all time.

Aside from his sculptures, Michelangelo is also the painter of the Sistine Chapel’s ceiling. The Last Judgment, one of his most famous artworks, is on the chapel’s altar wall. Furthermore, he was also the architect of the Laurentian Library and the St. Peter’s Basilica. Both of these structures became historical and cultural sites.

Caravaggio

Years Active: 1571 – 1610
Art Movement: Baroque
Art Medium: Painting
Famous Works: Boy Peeling Fruit, Salome receives the Head of John the Baptist, Boy Bitten by a Lizard, The Supper at Emmaus

Yet another Italian on this famous artists list is Caravaggio. His full name is Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio. As a Baroque artist, Caravaggio often made use of chiaroscuro in his works. Chiaroscuro is the dramatic use of light and shadow in art. This technique is meant to emphasize the dimensions of the subject using high contrast.

The subjects of his painting were often violent, such as torture and death. Like many, he favored working directly on the canvas without sketching first. His style later influenced many other famous artists, such as Rubens and Rembrandt.

Mary Cassatt

Years Active: 1844 – 1926
Art Movement: Impressionism
Art Medium: Painting
Famous Works: Lady at the Tea Table, Mother and Child (The Oval Mirror), Maternal Caress

Despite being an American, Mary Cassatt lived in France. There, she met many famous artists, including Edgar Degas. Along with Degas, Cassatt was an artist of Impressionism. Thus, her style consisted of bright, pastel colors and visible brushstrokes. Cassatt often painted women and their daily lives.

Thus, it does not come as a surprise when Cassatt is often linked to feminists of the late 1800s. Cassatt supported the suffrage movement, and she showed this by participating in exhibitions supporting women’s right to vote.

Lastly, Cassatt is one of the most famous female artists of Impressionism, and people often call her one of the “three great ladies” of this movement.

Marc Chagall

Years Active: 1887 – 1985
Art Movement: Cubism and Expressionism
Art Medium: Painting and stained glass
Famous Works: Self-Portrait with Seven Fingers, I and the Village, The Fiddler

Marc Chagall is a Russian-French artist. Many associate Chagall with different art movements. This is because Chagall tried out a lot of artistic styles and mediums. Aside from painting and stained glass, he also dabbled in book illustrations, ceramics, tapestries, and stage sets.

In 1945, he designed the costumes and sets of the ballet, The Firebird. His works in stained glass include the windows of the Metz Cathedral and Reims Cathedral. Some of the windows from the Art Institute of Chicago are also by Chagall.

Gustave Courbet

Years Active: 1819 – 1877
Art Movement: Realism
Art Medium: Painting and sculpture
Famous Works: The Stone Breakers, Burial at Ornans, The Painter’s Studio, The Bathers

During the mid-1900s, Realism rose as a new movement. This was a movement that rejected Romanticism and instead embraced the plain and flawed imitations of reality. Among the famous artists who pioneered this movement is Gustave Courbet.

Courbet was a political man. He often expressed support for the peasants of his own hometown. He did so by making them the subjects of his paintings. Aside from this, Courbet also frequently painted female nudes. Many found Courbet’s paintings to be vulgar and distasteful. Thus, he is often a controversial artist for many.

Paul Cezanne

Years Active: 1839 – 1906
Art Movement: Impressionism and Post-Impressionism
Art Medium: Painting
Famous Works: Bathers, The Fisherman, Still Life with Jair, Cup, and Apples

When talking about famous artists, Paul Cezanne cannot be left out. This French artist’s style is one people can easily recognize. His small brushstrokes and dramatic color contrast set his works apart from the rest.

His approach to painting was methodical. He viewed painting as a kind of “constructing.” Each brushstroke was like a piece of a whole structure. Cezanne’s style, later on, made way for the development of Cubism.

Leonardo Da Vinci

Years Active: 1452 – 1519
Art Movement: High Renaissance
Art Medium: Painting, sculpture, and architecture
Famous Works: The Last Supper, Mona Lisa, Salvator Mundi

Leonardo Da Vinci is often the go-to answer when you ask people about famous artists. This man was not only an artist but also an engineer and scientist. Because of this, many believe Da Vinci to be a genius. In fact, people often call him the “Renaissance man.”

Of course, Da Vinci is arguably one of the best artists of all time. The classic paintings, The Last Supper and Mona Lisa, are both by Da Vinci. Today, he continues to be one of the most influential artists in Western art. He even has a museum dedicated solely to him in his hometown, Vinci.

Salvador Dali

Years Active: 1904 – 1989
Art Movement: Cubism, Dadaism, and Surrealism
Art Medium: Painting, photography, sculpture, and film
Famous Works: The Persistence of Memory, Soft Construction with Boiled Beans, Dream Caused by the Flight of a Bee Around a Pomegranate a Second Before Awakening

Among famous Spanish artists, Salvador Dali often tops the list. In fact, Dali is the world’s most famous Surrealist artist. As a Surrealist, Dali reimagines the physical reality by tapping into his subconscious imagery. He takes notes from Sigmund Freud’s psychology. Furthermore, he even hypnotizes himself in an act called “paranoiac critical.” While this happens, he enters a state where he hallucinates images from his subconscious.

Many consider Dali’s works to be bizarre and abstract. Thus, a lot of his work is left to interpretation. During the late 1930s, Dali also dabbled in theater. He designed sets, interiors, and also jewelry.

Edgar Degas

Years Active: 1834 – 1917
Art Movement: Impressionism
Art Medium: Painting and sculpture
Famous Works: The Bellelli Family, The Dance Class, L’Absinthe, Woman Bathing in a Shallow Tub

Edgar Degas is one of the most famous artists from France. Born to a wealthy family in Paris, Degas had the means to pursue art at a young age. In fact, he even had his own studio at home.

If you observe most of his paintings, you’ll notice that the subject matter often deals with dance. He has numerous paintings of ballet dancers. Some of his other portraits captured horse-racing and nude women. Despite the fact that many people call him and his style “Impressionist,” Degas rejects this term. He prefers to call himself a “Realist.”

Tamara de Lempicka

Years Active: 1898 – 1980
Art Movement: Art Deco
Art Medium: Painting
Famous Works: Tamara in a Green Bugatti, Adam and Eve, Woman with Dove

Tamara de Lempicka stands out in this list of famous artists by being part of the Art Deco movement. In this movement, pieces focus on stylized geometric shapes and patterns. Most Art Deco artists use different mediums, such as plastics or concrete, but De Lempicka used paint.

She was a big fan of the Italian Renaissance. She also studied under avant-garde artists, who taught her about Cubism. With this knowledge, she was able to put her own style into Art Deco.

Many also praise De Lempicka for her subversion of the male gaze. In her works, she often featured her female lovers naked. To many, this was an act that defied social norms, where the female body was only for male consumption.

Eugène Delacroix

Years Active: 1798 – 1863
Art Movement: Romanticism
Art Medium: Painting and lithography
Famous Works: Liberty Leading the People, Dante and Virgil in Hell, Massacre at Chios

Eugène Delacroix is a French painter. To many, he paved the way for Impressionism and Post-impressionism. This is one of the reasons why he is one of the most famous artists today.

Delacroix’s style consists of vivid colors with strong brushstrokes. The subjects he chose to paint were often controversial. For instance, his Massacre at Chios captured dying Greek civilians during the Greek War of Independence. Many criticized his morbid depiction.

Despite this, people cannot deny the technique and skill that Delacroix possessed. Later on, his works influenced many other artists like Van Gogh.

Marcel Duchamp

Years Active: 1887 – 1986
Art Movement: Cubism, Dadaism, and Conceptualism
Art Medium: Painting, sculpture, and film
Famous Works: Fountain, The Large Glass, Nude Descending a Staircase No. 2

Marcel Duchamp is a French-American artist. Among the famous artists on this list, he is one that many people might not completely appreciate. To Duchamp, art should “serve the mind” instead of simply pleasing the eye. He often made readymade art. Readymade art refers to ordinary, everyday items that Duchamp modifies to become a unique sculpture or piece.

For example, his famous art, Fountain is a readymade sculpture. Duchamp took a porcelain urinal and signed it with “R. Mutt” while displaying it in the opposite orientation. Unfortunately, the exhibition’s committee did not display the work in the show area. However, photographs of it circulated and gained popularity.

Not a lot of people understand Duchamp and conceptualism, but that is also why so many people are fans.

Albrecht Durer

Years Active: 1471 – 1528
Art Movement: High Renaissance
Art Medium: Painting, drawing, and printmaking
Famous Works: Knight, Death and the Devil, Saint Jerome in his Study, Melencolia,

Albrecht Durer is a German artist. Among the famous artists on this list, Durer is known for his skill at woodcutting. Woodcut is a kind of printing where Durer carves a design on a block of wood. Then, he uses a sheet of paper with ink on it to transfer color onto the carved wood. This leaves behind a print on the raised surface of the wood.

Durer’s woodcut works are more Gothic than his usual style. Thus, some people also call him a Gothic artist. His most famous works, however, are his paintings and drawings. For example, Praying Hands is one of his drawings in pen and ink. It is often used for religious purposes.

Francisco Goya

Years Active: 1746 – 1828
Art Movement: Romanticism
Art Medium: Painting and drawing
Famous Works: The Naked Maja, The Clothed Maja, The Family of Charles IV, The Disasters of War

There are several famous Spanish artists, but many consider Francisco de Goya to be the most important one during the late 1800s and early 1900s. Goya is the last of the “Old Masters” and the first of the modern artists. “Old Masters” refers to any artists in Europe before 1800.

In 1786, he became a court painter. He painted Spanish aristocrats and royalty. He also designed tapestries for the royal palace. Later on, the subjects of his paintings focused on war. This was because of the political turmoil of the early 1800s.

El Greco

Years Active: 1541 – 1614
Art Movement: Mannerism and Renaissance
Art Medium: Painting, sculpture, and architecture
Famous Works: View of Toledo, Opening of the Fifth Seal, The Assumption of the Virgin

Some people might not know this, but El Greco isn’t actually his real name. It is a nickname that means “The Greek.” His full birth name is Doménikos Theotokópoulos.

During his lifetime, not many could understand his style. El Greco didn’t pay much mind to proportions like most of his peers did. His paintings often focused on religious subjects, such as Jesus Christ and saints. They often had exaggerated form. Later on, El Greco’s works greatly influenced famous artists of Expressionism and Cubism.

Max Ernst

Years Active: 1891 – 1976
Art Movement: Dadaism and Surrealism
Art Medium: Painting and sculpture
Famous Works: The Elephant Celebes, Ubu Inperator, The Temptation of Saint Anthony

Unlike other famous artists, Max Ernst did not receive formal training for his art. However, he was innovative. He often experimented with things around him. In fact, he invented the technique, frottage. This technique involves an artist placing a piece of paper over a textured surface. Then, the artist rubs the paper with a pencil. This results in a mark or print over the piece of paper.

Aside from this, Ernst was also a pioneer of Dadaism. Dadaism focuses on the avant-garde. This movement rejects logic and favors nonsense. During his career, Ernst even staged a Dada exhibit in a public bathroom.

Jan van Eyck

Years Active: Before 1395 – 1441
Art Movement: Early Netherlandish painting and Northern Renaissance
Art Medium: Painting
Famous Works: Ghen Altarpiece, The Arnolfini Portrait, The Annunciation

Jan van Eyck is a Netherlandish painter. He also worked as the varlet de chambre et peintre of the count of Holland. Later on, he worked for a duke who sponsored his art. Eyck’s art had a naturalist style, but he also dabbled in bold realism later on.

People credit the invention of oil painting to this famous artist. However, some say that oil painting had already existed even before Van Eyck. Either way, Van Eyck was a master of oil painting. Many people, to this day, take inspiration from his art pieces.

Frida Kahlo

Years Active: 1907 – 1954
Art Movement: Surrealism
Art Medium: Painting
Famous Works: My Birth, The Two Fridas, The Frame, Henry Ford Hospital

One of the most famous artists ever is Frida Kahlo. When she was just 18, she suffered severe injuries from a bus accident. However, her slow recovery gave her the opportunity to learn how to paint and study art. Since then, she began to paint a series of self-portraits.

Her self-portraits had different hairstyles, clothes, and other accessories. She always looked different in each one, but she always had an unimpressed look that stared back at audiences. Being biracial greatly influenced her works. She often explored the two opposing sides of her ancestry and what having a German father and a Mexican mother meant to her.

As she got older, Kahlo’s health declined. In 1953, she had her first solo exhibit in Mexico. Despite being unable to walk, she did not let this stop her from attending. She went to her exhibit lying on a bed.

Gustav Klimt

Years Active: 1862 – 1918
Art Movement: Art Nouveau and Vienna Secession
Art Medium: Painting
Famous Works: The Kiss, Judith and the Head of Holofernes

As one of the most famous artists in the world, Gustav Klimt is a familiar name to many. This Austrian Painter founded an art movement in 1897. Vienna Secession is a movement where artists reject academic art. Instead, they favor stylistic art like Art Nouveau. Klimt’s style consisted of bold uses of gold and linear drawing.

Because of this, Klimt’s work is very distinct. He often painted the female body in an erotic way. This did not win him the favor of art critics during his time. To them, his works were scandalous. His mural on the ceiling of the University of Vienna auditorium gathered a lot of flak because of its eroticism. This did not stop him as he continued to paint similar murals.

Yayoi Kusama

Years Active: 1929 – Present
Art Movement: Pop art and Minimalism
Art Medium: Painting, sculpture, installation art, and performance art
Famous Works: Obliteration Room, Infinity Mirror Room—Phalli’s Field, Accumulation No. 1

Yayoi Kusama is a contemporary artist from Japan. Many consider her to be one of the most famous Japanese artists ever. She is most known for her installation and performance art. After moving to New York, her art career took off. The performance art that built her reputation was the one where she painted naked participants with brightly colored dots.

Kusama’s style is obvious no matter what medium she uses. She explored identity and sexuality in many of her sculptures and performances. Furthermore, bright and colorful dots became her trademark. If you observe her works, you’ll notice the repetition of these dots is extreme. Some might even call it obsessive.

Roy Lichtenstein

Years Active: 1923 – 1997
Art Movement: Pop Art
Art Medium: Painting and sculpture
Famous Works: Whaam!, Drowning Girl, Look Mickey

If you’re a fan of comics, then you’ll like the next one on this famous artists list. Roy Lichtenstein is an American painter and sculptor. As a Pop Artist, Lichtenstein creates parodies of panels from comics and advertisements. To him, this was a way of parodying American culture itself.

Before he was an established artist, he studied fine arts. He also worked as an industrial designer and commercial-art instructor. His distinct style was a result of many years of learning and teaching art. In 1963, he parodied DC Comics’ All-American Men of War. This work entitled Whaam! became his most popular piece. He also parodied Disney characters like Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck.

In 2017, Lichntensten’s Masterpiece sold for $165 million. This was his most expensive piece.

Henri Matisse

Years Active: 1869 – 1954
Art Movement: Fauvism, Modernism, and Post-Impressionism
Art Medium: Painting, sculpture, and collage
Famous Works: Woman with a Hat, The Joy of Life, Nu blue 

To many, Henri Matisse is the most important French painter of his time. In the 1900s, Matisse was also the leader of the Fauvist movement. While he dabbled in other mediums, he is most known for his paintings and sculptures. His pieces greatly influenced the art scene of the 20th century.

Matisse wasn’t actually interested in art until he was 20 years old. Like most famous artists of his time, his subjects ranged from nude figures to landscapes. However, his pieces easily stood out because of his unique style. Matisse used vivid colors and exaggerated forms.

Claude Monet

Years Active: 1840 – 1926
Art Movement: Impressionism
Art Medium: Painting
Famous Works: Impression, Water Lilies, Reflections of Clouds on the Water-Lily Pond

Most of the famous artists on this list have pioneered one or more art movements. Claude Monet is no different. This French painter was the founder of Impressionism. In fact, his famous painting, Impression, is where the movement’s name is taken from.

Monet’s works focus on nature and landscape painting. When he lived in London, he would paint outside in his own garden. There, he found inspiration from his pond. Monet often painted water lilies. In fact, he has several paintings entitled “Water Lilies.”

In 1868, Monet tried to drown himself in the Seine River. His suicide attempt, however, was unsuccessful. He lived until the age of 85, when he died of lung cancer.

Edvard Munch

Years Active: 1863 – 1944
Art Movement: Expressionism and Symbolism
Art Medium: Painting and graphic art
Famous Works: The Scream, Madonna, The Sick Child

The Scream is arguably one of the most iconic paintings ever. You can see it referenced almost everywhere. Films, ads, and books mention or parody Edvard Munch’s painting. However, not many people know more about one of the most famous artists in the world.

Munch is a Norwegian painter who lived a hard life. During childhood to adulthood, he was surrounded by illness within his family. This led to Munch developing a nihilistic attitude. His works explored existentialism and angst.

For example, Munch painted The Scream after he heard “the enormous, infinite scream of nature.” The painting highlights the emotional and psychological anxiety that Munch often experiences.

Georgia O’Keeffe

Years Active: 1887 – 1986
Art Movement: American modernism
Art Medium: Painting and drawing
Famous Works: Jimson Weed, Black Iris, Abstraction White Rose, Oriental Poppies

Georgia O’Keefe is the “Mother of American modernism.” Her works influenced modern artists in the United States. She was the first to practice pure abstraction among famous artists, and she also taught art in schools. Her contribution to American art is undeniable.

Additionally, her appreciation for art comes from her own family. Her grandmothers and sisters also enjoyed painting. Thus, she was already surrounded by art at a young age. She passed on her love for art by teaching at schools in Texas and Columbia.

Later on, O’Keeffe began to lose her eyesight. However, she did not let this stop her from painting. She hired assistants to help her make art. In 1976, she even published her own book, where she continues to talk of her love for the arts.

Pablo Picasso

Years Active: 1881 – 1973
Art Movement: Cubism and Surrealism
Art Medium: Painting, sculpture, printmaking, and stage design
Famous Works: Portrait of Ambroise Vollard, Guernica, La Vie

Pablo Picasso is one of the most famous artists of the 20th century. This Spanish painter is the co-founder of Cubism. In Cubism, artworks are avant-garde. Artists interpret a subject by breaking them up into “cubes” and restructuring them. A lot of artists joined this movement. As a result, it became the most influential art movement of its time.

Picasso first started with naturalistic paintings. Later on, he experimented with different styles. El Greco and Paul Cezanne are just a few of the artists who clearly influenced his works.

Picasso was also adept in theatre design, ceramics, and printmaking. He also created collages. Throughout his lifetime, he was able to make almost 2,000 paintings. Thousands of sculptures, ceramics, and other works were also discovered in his house.

Jackson Pollock

Years Active: 1912 – 1956
Art Movement: Abstract expressionism
Art Medium: Painting
Famous Works: Mural, Number 17A, The Deep

Among famous artists in the 20th century was Jackson Pollock. This American painter was a pioneer of “action painting.” Action painting is a technique wherein the artist uses spontaneous movement to paint. For Pollock, he often poured or dripped paint onto his canvas.

As a result, people consider Pollock to be an influential figure of Abstract Expressionism. Despite his success, he preferred to be alone. He also struggled with alcoholism throughout his life. When he was sober, he was gentle. When he was drunk, he had violent tendencies. His art, however, provided him with a medium for release. He treated his paintings as a reflection of his own self.

Rembrandt

Years Active: 1606 – 1669
Art Movement: Dutch Golden Age and Baroque
Art Medium: Painting, printmaking, and drawing
Famous Works: The Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp, Night Watch, Judas Repentant

Many believe Rembrandt to be one of the greatest visual artists in Dutch art history. Even during his lifetime, his influence was undeniable. He never went abroad, and yet many artists sought his teachings.

Rembrandt’s style takes after other famous artists like Peter Paul Rubens. However, his own style is distinct. His works were often self-portraits. However, he is most known for his “history pieces.” These works were biblical and allegorical. For instance, his Judas Repentant depicts a scene from the bible. The painting captures how Judas felt guilty for his act and returned the money to the priests.

Peter Paul Rubens

Years Active: 1577 – 1640
Art Movement: Baroque
Art Medium: Painting, drawing, and printing
Famous Works: The Descent from the Cross, Wolf and Fox Hunt, The Garden of Love

Peter Paul Rubens is a Flemish artist of the Baroque movement. He contributed a great deal to the art movement. With his distinct style, he pioneered much of what Baroque art looked like. Rubens’ style of color, movement, and sensuality influenced other famous artists.

He was also a prolific artist. He painted more than a thousand pieces. The subjects of his art included portraits, landscapes, and religious scenes. Rubens was also a fan of mythology, and you can easily observe this in his works. For example, his The Hippopotamus Hunt is an interpretation of hunting wild animals.

Vincent Van Gogh

Years Active: 1853 – 1890
Art Movement: Post-Impressionism
Art Medium: Painting
Famous Works: The Starry Night, Sunflowers, Wheatfield with Crows

Even if you aren’t familiar with other famous artists, you’ve likely heard of Vincent Van Gogh. Van Gogh is the one-eared artist. This Dutch painter is famous for not only his paintings but his life story as well. Van Gogh did not live an easy life. In fact, he did not get to experience the success of his career.

People only came to appreciate his works after he passed away. While he was still alive, he struggled with his mental health. He suffered from psychotic episodes. Also, he wasn’t in the best shape physically. He often drank and did not eat well. In a fit of rage, he cut off a part of his left ear.

Despite this, he made amazing art. People saw him as a misunderstood genius and a “tortured artist.” His paintings are some of the most expensive in the world.

Andy Warhol

Years Active: 1928 – 1987
Art Movement: Pop Art
Art Medium: Painting, film, and photography
Famous Works: Campbell’s Soup Cans, Marilyn Diptych, Coca-Cola

Andy Warhol is an American artist and filmmaker. He did not venture into acting, but his popularity was much like a celebrity’s. He bridged mainstream media and fine art together with his performance arts, films, and other pieces.

Some of his experimental films include The Chelsea Girls (1966) and Blue Movie (1969). As a filmmaker, his trademark was producing plotless and erotic films.

Warhol almost died in a shooting incident in 1968. Valerie Solanas, an underground film star, shot Warhol in his own studio. The 1996 film I Shot Andy Warhol actually depicts this scary experience.