Contemporary Artist: Andy Warhol

Andy Warhol’s works investigated the relationship between artistic expression, celebrity culture and advertisement. Warhol first had a career as a commercial illustrator, and then began work with many different mediums, such as paint, sculpture, film and music. His most well-know works are paintings and silkscreen prints, such as that of Marilyn Monroe and Jackie Kennedy. His most well known medium is silk screening. The iconic figures that he used in each of these works, as well as the bright colors he used in each of his prints are what make his work so unique. Warhol’s films are his second most well know medium. Most of his films focused on the emotional or mental state of a single subject over an extended period of time. Some of his films didn’t even have a living subject, and simply focused on a building. Warhol executed this theme through film very well. Many of his pieces were very controversial during Warhol’s life, however, maybe that is what made his work so successful.

New Media Artist: Jed Berk

The specific installation A Champion Flock of Weed Eaters by Berk portrays the theme of futuristic rural space. These “sheep” are held in a futuristic solar panel covered barn, which points towards how technology is slowing beginning to control our more rural systems. Berk’s works constist mainly of interactive installation pieces that encourage the audience to be actively involved with the piece. Berk does a fantastic job creating interesting installations that not only actively involve the viewer, but also get the audience to think about the underlying themes of the pieces.