Andy Warhol's Rarely Seen Early Drawings Featured in New Toronto Exhibit

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What do you want to know: Currently on display, Caviar20 in Toronto presents “Andy Warhol: The First Decade, New York 1952–62», which will run until April 13, 2023. Pioneer of the Pop art movement, Warhol became internationally famous for his use of the visual language of mass media and popular culture – creating now iconic works like the “Campbell’s Soup Can” series (1961-1962), Diptych Marilyn (1962), and Banana (1966). Although Warhol’s career came to prominence in the 1960s – and many of his most famous works date from this period – the artist’s practice began long before that. In the decade preceding his mainstream success, Warhol was refining his individual style and artistic practice while simultaneously working as a commercial illustrator. His commercial designs gained a solid reputation and were widely sought after, used as advertisements and other promotional materials. Although he did not see a similar achievement with his personal artistic pursuits in the 1950s, the work he produced is integral to understanding the genesis of this world renowned artist. The exhibition at Caviar20 features both commercial and independent work from this early part of his career.

Why we love it: Warhol has been a subject of fascination for art historians and art lovers for over half a century, however, despite the wealth of scholarship and wide exposure of his work, his early practice is often neglected. Caviar20’s presentation of the artist’s drawings from 1952 to 1962 is the first to focus on this period in Canada and offers followers of Warhol the opportunity to better understand the development of his practice, before he became a worldwide sensation. The subject matter between his commercial work and his personal practice varies considerably from each other, with the latter centering on the often erotic portraiture of people around him. Warhol’s experiences within the gay community of the time were a powerful source of inspiration and often became the subject of his artistic focus in his early works. In the exhibition, the juxtaposition of the artist’s playful commercial illustrations and simple personal drawings highlights the similarities of line and composition, while drawing attention to the growing range of his practice as a whole as he was headed for stardom.

According to the Gallery: “While Warhol’s signature Pop art is super iconic, ultra blue chip and ubiquitous, this first decade of creation remains a relatively unknown, almost unknown, yet significant chapter in his oeuvre. During the 1950s, Warhol emerged unashamedly uptown gay scene, both socially and professionally. His output as an artist and exhibitions were inspired by, and arguably served, gay men (with intersecting aspirations). Warhol sketched many men in his circle, friends and lovers, enjoying the ease of the newly released ballpoint pen.This deep and intimate period predates Warhol’s art world superstar when he became notoriously evasive about his personality and sexuality.

See the interior of the exhibit below.