The Birth of The Factory
Despite its association with mass production and consumerism, the name "Factory" was fitting for Warhol's studio, reflecting his innovative approach to art as a commercial enterprise. Warhol rejected elitist notions of art and embraced a more democratic production model, targeting the masses with his depictions of pop culture icons and consumer goods. The silk-screening process employed at The Factory allowed Warhol to churn out prints at great speed, embodying the spirit of mass production in art.
Mary Woronov. Source..
These people were nuts. They were doing high-grade amphetamines. Ondine [Robert Olivo, actor] was taking my mother’s Eskatrol. They did drugs all the time.
The Factory's Locations
Over its existence from 1963 to 1984, The Factory had three different locations in New York City, each playing a unique role in Warhol's artistic evolution. The original Factory on East 47th Street, known as the Silver Factory, became synonymous with hedonistic parties and creative collaboration.Following a shocking attempt on Warhol's life in 1968, The Factory relocated to the Decker Building at Union Square West, signalling a shift towards a more business-oriented focus. The final location at 860 Broadway marked the end of The Factory era, with Warhol establishing his studio and office in the Edison Building.
Danny Fields, 78, music industry executive, former manager of the Ramones. Factory years: 1960s. Source.
We all went to the San Remo in those days. That was the genesis of the first Factory. It was a bar at Bleecker and Macdougal, a tile floor place with an Italian matriarch who’d inherited it. Somehow it turned into the gay bohemian bar of the early 1960s
Creative Output of The Factory
Warhol's Factory was a hotbed of artistic experimentation, producing a diverse range of works across various mediums. The studio was renowned for its prolific film production, with Warhol creating hundreds of experimental films featuring his "superstars" and collaborators. Notable films like "Chelsea Girls" and "Blue Movie" pushed the boundaries of cinematic expression and challenged societal norms. In addition to film, The Factory was a hub for music, with Warhol managing and mentoring The Velvet Underground and designing their iconic album covers. Multimedia events like The Exploding Plastic Inevitable showcased the intersection of music, film, and performance art, captivating audiences with their avant-garde sensibility.
Warhol is probably most famous for his silkscreen paintings like Campbell's Soup Cans and his Marilyn Diptych, while notable photographs from the Factory show the artist alongside pieces including Flowers and Cow. However, the collaborative essence of the environment also gave him the perfect opportunity to get involved in a variety of other creative endeavors.
Warhol produced hundreds of films at the Factory. These experimental works often consisted of unstructured, improvised scenes, and starred many of the ‘Warhol superstars’, including his most infamous muse, model Edie Sedgwick. Warhol withdrew the majority of his films from circulation in 1970. However, in 2014 it was announced that New York’s Museum of Modern Art planned to digitize and screen 500 of the films he created between 1963 and 1972. “I think the art world in particular, and hopefully the culture as a whole, will come to feel the way we do,” Patrick Moore, a curator of the project, said. “The films are every bit as significant and revolutionary as Warhol’s paintings.”
Blue Movie (1969), one of his most famous films, became the first adult erotic picture including explicit sex to get a wide theatrical release in America. Other notable features are Vinyl (1965), an adaptation of the novel A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess, and Sleep (1964) which depicts poet John Girono sleeping for almost five and a half hours.
Chelsea Girls (1966) was Warhol’s most critically and commercially successful film, following the lives of women that lived at New York’s Chelsea Hotel.
As well as his features, Warhol also became famous for his non-traditional ‘screen tests’ he took of his famous friends. These were films in their own right, rather than auditions to test their suitability in front of the camera. Each was only a few minutes long and totally silent, with the subject instructed to stay as still as possible in order to create a living portrait. That said, Warhol’s stars would often deviate from this format in later films and move freely, showcasing their personalities in spite of the restrictions. Some of his most famous subjects include Bob Dylan, Salvador Dalí and Marcel Duchamp.
The Factory was frequently visited by many iconic musicians. Warhol soon became manager and mentor to the Velvet Underground, designing the legendary cover of their debut album
The Velvet Underground & Nico, complete with a peelable banana. He also financed the recording sessions, and persuaded the band to feature German singer Nico, another Warhol superstar. After leaving the Velvet Underground, frontman Lou Reed released the single ‘Walk on the Wild Side’, one of his most famous songs. Each verse of the track refers to one of the regular Warhol superstars at the Factory — Holly Woodlawn, Candy Darling, Joe Dallesandro, Jackie Curtis and Joe Campbell. The lyrics were groundbreaking for the time, owing to their risqué nature, referencing the real-life exploits of the superstars with allusions to prostitution, transgender people, and oral sex.
Another musical face at the Factory was Mick Jagger, for whom Warhol designed the suggestive cover of the Rolling Stones’ 1971 album Sticky Fingers. Featuring a close-up of a male crotch in tight jeans, the album sleeve could be literally unzipped to reveal the underwear beneath.
André Leon Talley, 69, fashion journalist. Receptionist at the Union Square Factory, 1975.. Source..
The Factory was very much a creative playpen, but there were still rules. You had to show up every day, or you would be fired. Andy was always walking around being very vague about everything. But you had to be enthusiastic. There was a seriousness about the place, a decorum and deportment.
The Legacy of The Factory
Decades after its heyday, The Factory continues to captivate imaginations and inspire artistic innovation. Warhol's collaborative approach to art-making has influenced generations of artists, paving the way for collective creativity in the contemporary art world. The enduring cultural impact of The Factory is evident in its portrayal in films, books, and other forms of media, cementing its status as an iconic symbol of 1960s counterculture. As Glenn O'Brien aptly stated, Warhol's Factory revolutionised the concept of the artist's studio, demonstrating that art could thrive in a collaborative and dynamic environment.
Andy Warhol's Factory remains a testament to the power of creativity, collaboration, and rebellion. From its humble beginnings as a silver-coated studio in Midtown Manhattan to its status as a cultural landmark, The Factory continues to inspire artists and enthusiasts alike, serving as a beacon of artistic freedom and expression in an ever-changing world. Discover original Andy Warhol prints for sale or browse Andy Warhol art and contact sales@andipa.com or call +44 (0)20 7589 2371 for further information.