Superman
At eight years old, Andy Warhol found a new idol: Superman. Diagnosed with an autoimmune disease, the young artist was bedridden for months after episodes of involuntary shaking led to bullying at school. At home, Warhol escaped into the world of comic books, especially the tale of Clark Kent. As an insecure young boy, Warhol found hope in Kent’s transformation from underdog to superhero. Decades later, he created his own rendition of Superman, portraying the character flying through the sky as part of his “Myths” portfolio. Warhol’s silkscreen Superman (1981) reached a new auction record in 2017, selling for over $200,000 at Phillips. But this isn’t the only Warhol motif inspired by his childhood illness—while bedridden, Warhol’s mother also fed him lots of Campbell’s Soup.
Series by this artist
- Campbell’s Soup Cans166 available
- Marilyn Monroe146 available
- Advertisements91 available
- Mick Jagger72 available
- Ladies and Gentlemen70 available
- Shoes67 available
- Celebrity Portraits65 available
- Mao57 available
- Cowboys and Indians56 available
- Endangered Species53 available
- Reigning Queens53 available
- Myths52 available
- Sex Parts and Torsos51 available
- Polaroids48 available
- Illustrations41 available
- Jean-Michel Basquiat39 available
- Death and Disaster35 available
- Electric Chairs32 available
- Dollar Sign29 available
- Tomato Soup25 available
- Brillo Boxes24 available
- Bananas23 available
- Details of Renaissance Paintings23 available
- Athletes22 available
- Leonardo da Vinci22 available
- Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom21 available
- Space Fruit20 available
- Lenin19 available
- Wild Raspberries19 available
- Camouflage19 available
- Halston18 available
- Committee 200018 available
- Martha Graham17 available
- Muhammad Ali16 available
- Dancers16 available
- Shadows15 available
- Hammer and Sickle15 available
- Saint Apollonia15 available
- Dollar Bills14 available
- Mona Lisa14 available
- After the Party14 available
- Poinsettias13 available
- Jacqueline Kennedy12 available
- Cats Name Sam12 available
- Howdy Doody12 available
- Mickey Mouse12 available
- Grace Jones12 available
- Letter to the World (The Kick)11 available
- Interview Magazine11 available
- General Custer11 available