ANNOUNCEMENT: GUIDED TOUR AVAILABLE

Weekends: 11am, 4pm and 7pm

Weekdays: 3pm and 7pm

Duration: 45 min

*A private tour can also be scheduled depending on availability. Email exhibitions@artforall.ae to book 

Andy Warhol’s Original Pieces Come to Dubai for the First Time

Art For All is bringing an unprecedented exhibition to Foundry, Downtown Dubai from September 15 – October 31 – Andy Warhol, The Glam Factory. The exhibition showcases a curated selection of Andy Warhol’s works which traces his rise from a modest illustrator to a superstar of contemporary art. Visitors will experience iconic pieces, including the famed Marilyn Monroe portraits, while getting a chance to delve into Warhol’s systematic ambition and unique perspective.

Warhol’s fascination with consumer culture and symbols, coupled with his talent for portraying the elite, positioned him as a revolutionary artist of the 20th century. His work subverted traditional marketing methods by infusing them with personal content: Celebrities, Consumers, and Culture. Warhol redefined the artist’s role and influence, inspiring and provoking even today.

Curated by Nada Ghandour, the exhibition celebrates Pop Art and offers a portrait of American society from the 1960s to the 1980s—a period marked by artistic, technological, and societal renewal which Warhol reflected in his works. 

Part 1: Who Is Andy Warhol?

The exhibition begins with “The Glam Factory,” an introduction to Andy Warhol and highlights of his biography. This section answers the fundamental question: “Who is Andy Warhol?” 

It moves on to explore his early career as an illustrator leading up to his commercial art and the birth of new icons.Warhol’s self-portraits illustrate the evolution of his artistic techniques, focusing on his role as an innovator who embraced modernity and new technology. 

Part 2: Immersive Experience

The exhibition then transitions to “The Silver Factory,” recreating the on-site environment of the Factory together with aluminum walls, transforming the art studio into a hub of artistic production.

Here the audience will also see Warhol’s most iconic screen prints such as that of Marilyn Monroe, and get a first-hand taste of his fascination with the “Rich and Famous.”

An interactive room dedicated to Studio 54 brings to life the glamorous nightlife scene Warhol frequented, offering visitors an immersive experience of New York’s extravagant nightlife during this period. The Studio 54 room vividly captures the spirit of the era, where jet setters, businessmen, designers, top models, and celebrities converged.

Venue and Design

The exhibition, held at Foundry, a hybrid progressive art space in Downtown Dubai’s Boulevard, is designed by New York-based architect Ibrahim Kombarji. Kombarji’s design contextualizes Warhol’s work through materiality, creating a space that reflects the artist’s innovative spirit and the cultural milieu of his time.

Andy Warhol, The Glam Factory, is a celebration of Warhol’s genius and a deep dive into the world that shaped his art. It offers a rare opportunity to experience Warhol’s original pieces in Dubai, providing a comprehensive look at his life, work, and enduring influence on contemporary art and culture.

About The Curator

Holding a PhD in Art History and expert in Modern and Contemporary art, Nada Ghandour is a Heritage Curator with a degree from the “Institut national du Patrimoine” (Paris – France)) with a specialization in the field of Museum. 

She holds four Masters: Museology (École du Louvre); Art History (Sorbonne – University of Paris IV); Preventative Heritage Conservation (University of Paris I); Digital Humanities (SciencesPo, Paris Institute of Political Studies).

She is an independent curator specializing in cultural management and digital technology in the field of culture. She was the Curator of the Lebanese Pavilion at the 59th International Art Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia 2022, and has worked with some of the largest European and North American museums – e.g. the Museum of Fine Art (Montreal), the Musée National Picasso – Paris (France) and the Fondation louis Vuitton (Paris). 

She participated in large-scale exhibitions such as: Catherine the Great. An Art for the Empire (2005 – 2006), Cube: Art and History from 1868 to the present day (2008), Piccaso! The anniversary exhibition (2015-2016), Icons of Modern Art, The Shtouchkine Collection (2016-2017). She is currently the Commissioner and the Curator of the Lebanese Pavilion at the next 60th International Art Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia 2024

Highlights
🖼️ Explore Warhol’s most iconic pieces, including the famous Marilyn Monroe portraits
👨‍🎨 Learn about how Warhol’s eclectic style revolutionized the 20th century
🎊 Immerse yourself in the extravagance of  1970s NYC nightlife in the Studio 54 room
🌎 Step into his universe and feel connected to one of the greatest artists in history
⭐ Go on an extraordinary journey through Pop Art in this one-of-a-kind exhibition

General Info
📅 Date: from September 20 to October 31, 2024
🕒 Opening hours:
– Weekdays (Monday-Thursday): 10:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. (last entry at 9:00 pm)
– Weekends (Friday-Sunday): 10:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. (last entry at 9:00 pm)
⏳ Duration: 45-60 minutes
📍 Location: Foundry, Boulevard Crescent – Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Blvd – Downtown Dubai – Dubai
👤 Age requirement: all ages are welcome!
♿ Accessibility: the venue is wheelchair accessible
❓ Please consult the FAQs of this experience here