The exhibition ‘Money on the Wall: Andy Warhol’ at the Spritmuseum in Stockholm challenges traditional distinctions between high art and commercial interests by showcasing artists who blur the lines between original and reproduction, as seen in Warhol’s own work, such as his collaborations with others or use of industrial processes. The show highlights the art market’s obsession with scarcity, authenticity, and the touch of the artist’s hand.
The exhibition “Money on the Wall: Andy Warhol” at the Spritmuseum in Stockholm, curated by Blake Gopnik, scrutinizes what Warhol deemed “business art.” This show delves into the intersection of art and commerce, where artists challenge traditional notions of value and authenticity.
Warhol’s career began with commercial work: drawing Schiaparelli gloves for magazine advertisements and silkscreening clowns onto fabrics for textile manufacturers. He continued to accept commercial work throughout his career, often producing pieces that trolled the companies commissioning him.
The exhibition highlights the art market’s obsession with scarcity, authenticity, and the touch of the artist’s hand. Warhol’s projects, such as “Fairies” (1950s), were often created in collaboration with others or using industrial processes, blurring the lines between original and reproduction.
The exhibition showcases artists who have continued in the spirit of Warhol’s brazen legacy. Brooklyn collective MSCHF and their projects are featured, as well as other artists like Jens Haaning, who received money meant to reproduce his 2007 work representing “An Average Austrian Annual Income” in bills and coins.
The exhibition title references Warhol’s 1975 quote: “I like money on the wall. Say you were going to buy a $200,000 painting. I think you should take that money, tie it up and hang it on the wall.”
The exhibition highlights Warhol’s partnerships with brands, including his commission in 1985 to create art for Absolut vodka.
The seeming exception to these often sardonic partnerships was his commission in 1985 to create art for Absolut vodka.
