Pop art is an art movement that began in the mid-1950s and grew popular in the 1960s. It was heavily influenced by popular culture, often incorporating images from comics, advertisements, and other mass media. The term “pop art” was first coined by British artist/critic Lawrence Alloway in 1954, and the style became synonymous with American artists such as Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein, and Jasper Johns.
Andy Warhol is widely regarded as the father of pop art. He was born in Pittsburgh in 1928 and developed a fascination with fame and celebrity from a young age.
In his early career he worked as a commercial artist for magazines such as Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar before moving to New York City in the late 1950s. His most famous works are probably his Campbell’s Soup Cans (1962) and Marilyn Diptych (1962). Warhol’s work often addressed themes of consumerism, celebrity culture, death, and beauty.
Roy Lichtenstein is another influential figure in pop art. Born in New York City in 1923, Lichtenstein studied at Ohio State University before serving in World War II. He began to explore the idea of pop art during the 1950s but it wasn’t until 1961 that he created his first “pop” painting based on a comic book panel entitled Look Mickey.
His later works often referenced popular culture topics such as war and romance comics. He also created some of the most iconic works of pop art including Whaam! (1963) and Drowning Girl (1963).
Jasper Johns is yet another key figure associated with pop art. Born in Augusta, Georgia in 1930, Johns moved to New York City in 1954 where he began to explore abstract expressionism before eventually turning towards pop imagery such as flags, numbers, maps, Targets, etc., which he used to make bold statements about society at large. His works are known for their use of bright colors which he often paired with textured surfaces like newspaper clippings or fabric swatches to create interesting effects.
These three artists represent some of the most influential figures associated with pop art. Their groundbreaking work has shaped how we view contemporary art today and their influence can still be seen across many different genres of visual art today.
Conclusion
Andy Warhol is widely considered to be one of the pioneers of pop art along with Roy Lichtenstein and Jasper Johns who also made major contributions to this iconic movement.