The world fascinates me

Andy Warhol sensitively observed mass culture at mid-century. To spotlight new, mechanical reproduction, he adopted photography and silkscreen for his art. To comment on the flood of images new to daily life, he often created his work in multiples. Warhol created a dizzying display when creating artwork in series, and the force of that repetition called the originality of his selected image into question. What is authentic when repeated endlessly? In his series in particular, Warhol questioned the originality and even the agency of images.

The Western Gallery holds an exceptional collection of artwork that takes part in the mid-century attraction to serial artwork. The work in series in the exhibition reveals many possible adaptations for artists who chose this approach. Additional works on paper from the collection by artists in the same spirited generation of artistic innovation are included as well. These works by Joseph Albers, Jasper Johns, Frank Stella, and others reflect the rich holdings of the gallery at WWU.

All artworks on view are part of the Washington Art Consortium collection, established with support from the Virginia Wright Fund and National Endowment for the Arts.