It’s been twenty years since Andy Warhol died on February 22, 1987, but his legacy lives on. Highly accomplished in many fields, Warhol served as a modern version of the classic Renaissance man, making a name for himself first as a graphic designer, then an artist, filmmaker, music producer, publisher, and writer. In doing so, he became a celebrity, even a household name. That is a rare achievement for a visual artist, reserved for the likes of Leonardo, Michelangelo, Rembrandt, Monet, and Picasso.
In honor of Warhol and the anniversary of his peculiar death at New York Hospital, several events in February paid tribute to him and his entourage — that quirky group of misfits who hung out in Warhol’s studio, which he called The Factory. New York’s Gershwin Hotel hosted “Warhol Week,” a variety of events including an awards ceremony praising Lou Reed and Joe Dallesandro, a Levi’s fashion show, and performances by the band The Warhol Crowd, Debbie Harry, and Chris Stein.
