Andy Warhol Revisited, Pop-Art pop-up gallery in Toronto

"You would hardly believe how difficult it is to place a figure alone on a canvas, and to concentrate all the interest on this single and universal figure and still keep it living and real." - Edouard Manet

Andy Warhol, Marilyn_credit_ © 2015 The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, Inc.  Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York

Andy Warhol, Marilyn_credit_ © 2015 The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, Inc.  Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York

Revolver Gallery in Los Angeles is presenting Andy Warhol Revisited, a pop-up exhibit at 77 Bloor East in Toronto’s iconic Yorkville. The show was curated by music impresario and Revolver owner, Ron Revlin, from his own collection, along with some borrowed works. It features a comprehensive selection of Warhols including his infamous soupcans and famous folks; Mick Jagger, Liz Taylor, Mao, Queen Elizabeth, Muhammed Ali and the King of Pop Michael Jackson. The King of Pop-Art also “painted” fruit, flowers and sunsets, and they are also on display. 

I’ve always thought French painter Edward Manet’s idea of framing everyday life has echoes in Warhol’s framing of modern life. Both chose working girls to focus in on, creating a new Mona Lisa, a new icon that would best represent their times and their lives.

Manet said there are no lines in Nature only colours. When we draw lines around something, border it, frame it, we give it special consideration. We elevate the subject. Most of us now carry the ability to frame something and make it famous. We only need to snap with our Iphones and the image can be famous, occasionally longer than the Warholian decree of 15 minutes. The question becomes if we are all framed, are we inside or outside the frame? I would suggest we are all inside the frame now. And from where I stand it looks a lot like a gallery full of images of famous people. Time to revisit Warhol and see your world for yourself.

Andy Warhol: Revisited exterior. 77 Bloor St. West Toronto. Image by Anthony Cohen

Andy Warhol: Revisited exterior. 77 Bloor St. West Toronto. Image by Anthony Cohen

The show runs until Dec 31 2015. The show opened July 1 but new works are been added this week. Admission is $10 for adults however I would suggest the $30 VIP ticket  which includes unlimited admission, (plus a one-time plus one), plus a T-shirt and a poster. Seniors are $8, students and youth are $5 and children under five are free. Starting Nov. 3 entrance will be free to all on Tuesdays with a donation to the Daily Food Bank. Revolver is asking for, appropriately enough, a can of Campbell’s soup.

Andy Warhol, Campbell’s Soup II. Image credit: © 2015 The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, Inc. Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York. Photographer: Leila Tisdale.

Andy Warhol, Campbell’s Soup II. Image credit: © 2015 The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, Inc. Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York. Photographer: Leila Tisdale.