Andy Warhol / Ai Weiwei

Andy Warhol (1928–1987) and Ai Weiwei (b. 1957) are two of the most internationally renowned artists of the past 100 years, famous not only for their artwork but also for influencing the culture of their time. This exciting book is the first to consider the work of these artists alongside one another, in dialogue and in correspondence, to explore the artists’ meticulous observations of modern and contemporary art, life, and politics. Andy Warhol’s investigation of consumer society, fame, and celebrity offers thought-provoking points of connection with Ai Weiwei’s interrogation of the relationship between tradition and modernity, the role of the individual to the state, questions of human rights, and the value of freedom of expression. Parallels also exist between the ways in which each artist transformed the understanding of artistic value and studio production, and redefined the role of the artist—as impresario, cultural producer, activist, and brand.

Alongside beautifully reproduced images by both artists—including works by Ai Weiwei published here for the first time—are illuminating essays by an international team of art experts, curators, and scholars that survey the scope of the artists’ careers and interpret the significant impact of Andy Warhol and Ai Weiwei on modern art and contemporary life.

Max Delany is senior curator of contemporary art at the National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne.Eric Shiner is director of the Andy Warhol Museum, Pittsburgh.