I’ve always been fascinated by Warhol and his superstars. Years ago I read Jean Stein’s Edie: American Girl, which used quotations of those in Edie Sedgwick’s life to tell the story of Warhol’s most famous superstar.The biography was a stunning look into such a tragic life, whose death many blame on the famous artist that took Edie under his wings.

But Edie: American Girl, like most Warhol superstar biographies, has a missing piece to the puzzle that is Edie Sedgwick’s life; Andy Warhol. Although the biography mentions Warhol’s involvement with Edie, it simply states the facts of their relationship: Andy took Edie to events, Edie met Andy’s mother, Edie got involved with the Factory inhabitants. And while reading the story of Edie Sedgwick, I couldn’t help but wonder who this illustrious man with so much power was and how he had such control?

This is why I was excited to read Andy Warhol; Prince of Pop by Jan Greenberg and Sandra Jordan. The biography tells the life story of the famous Pop artist from his birth in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to his death in New York City, detailing his childhood, education, religion and, of course, the Factory. Since the silver-wigged artist diligently protected his private life, Andy Warhol; Prince of Pop, like Edie: American Girl, barely scratches the surface of Andy Warhol’s life.

Andy Warhola was born on August 6, 1928 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to Andrej and Julia Warhola, an immigrant couple from Carpatho-Ruthenia. Born poor, Andy later said that “Being born is like being kidnapped. And then sold into slavery” (2). As a child, Andy shared a bed with his older brothers, Paul and John; the family bathtub sat in the middle of the kitchen. Julia would give the boys paper and crayons for a family colouring contest, which Andy always won; the prize was a giant Hershey bar.

Andy attended The Byzantine Catholic Church during the week and every Sunday, walking three miles to St. John Chrysostom. The church played a significant role in Andy’s art, as a golden screen stood at the alter, where “square upon square, row upon row of icons-sacred paintings of saints” hung. “These repetitive images would have a profound effect on Andy’s art” (3).

Throughout Andy Warhola’s childhood, he suffered bouts of illness. At age eight, Andy caught rheumatic fever and took a one month absence from school. Upon his return, Andy still felt sick. “His hands shook so badly he could not write on the blackboard; his knees buckled when he walked” (7). Andy was eventually diagnosed with chorea, a complication of rheumatic fever known as St. Vitus’ dance. His mother doted on him and his brother’s protected him; Andy was the fragile, gifted Warhola boy.

Andy was considered gifted from a young age, even attending art classes at the Carnegie Institute for gifted children. It is there where Andy was first exposed to the children of the upperclass. “The movies Andy loved showed Hollywood’s version of glittering extravagance, but now, on Saturday mornings at the museum, he gained a close-up view of an affluent and privileged way of life that looked out of reach for a Ruthenian boy from a blue collar family” (9).

Success is a Job in New York

From 1945 to 1949, Andy Warhola attended Carnegie Tech, a top school for artists. “They were tough, talented, and professional, but they didn’t always know what to make of Andy Warhola” (17). Although Carnegie Tech may not have known what to make of Andy Warhola, New York City sure did. After moving there in June 1949, Andy entered the world of art advertising.

It is in the world of magazines, where Andy Warhola became Andy Warhol. On his assignment “Success is a Job in New York” for Glamour, the credit line read Warhol instead of Warhola. As Andy always loved mistakes, he adapted the new name.

Years making art for advertisements allowed the successful Andy Warhol to take a stab at art for himself. Andy Warhol; the Prince of Pop chronicles his move from advertising to Pop art, creating the Factory, his superstars and film career. It is during these later years that the details of Warhol’s life become vague, including how he founded Interview magazine, which is barely mentioned in the biography.

The enigma that is Andy Warhol remains. As Andy said during his prosperous art career, he was “putting his Andy on.” Just like his art pieces, Andy Warhol leaves Andy Warhol up for interpretation.