Andy Warhol’s Seasonal Salon: 100 Works on Paper from the 1950s

In the spirit of the Holiday Season and Warhol’s love for everything festive, we are bringing together 100 of Warhol’s works on paper. From his iconic Wild Raspberries recipe book to the rare Fleming-Joffe collages, the exhibition will bring collectors into the early parts of Warhol’s career as an artist.

Andy Warhol loved to draw shoes—high heels, pumps, or jeweled stilettos—and they were among his first subjects when he worked as a young commercial fashion illustrator in 1950s New York. Although best known for his silkscreen paintings, Andy Warhol was also an excellent draughtsman. Drawing was a constant part of his artistic practice. Each of the sixteen images in this portfolio features a shoe centrally placed on the page accompanied by a simple line of text, a verbal-visual composition mimicking the picture and ad copy of advertisements. Each of the works in “A la Recherche du Shoe Perdu” were hand-colored. Andy Warhol’s mother helped developed the phrases that go along with each shoe.

In 1959, “Wild Raspberries” was a collaboration between Frankfurt and Warhol, where Warhol provided charming and quirky illustrations alongside Frankfurt’s tongue-in-cheek recipes and entertaining commentary. Warhol’s drawings in the cookbook showcased his early whimsical style, blending simplicity with a touch of playful sophistication. These illustrations were characteristic of Warhol’s artistic approach, even before he became widely recognized for his iconic pop art.

The cookbook, though not widely known compared to Warhol’s later works, reflects his keen eye for visual storytelling and penchant for turning everyday objects into art. “Wild Raspberries” stands as a testament to Warhol’s diverse talents beyond his celebrated pop art and serves as a delightful insight into his early artistic expressions and collaborations.