In an age when a single post on TikTok can turn an ordinary person into an overnight sensation, Andy Warhol鈥檚 prediction that 鈥渆veryone will be famous for 15 minutes鈥� seems more relevant than ever.
It's the fascination with fame, combined with the timeless power of art, that makes the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria's exhibition so compelling.
"What makes this show exciting is it really provides a great opportunity for people to see how great art from the past is still relevant today and really informs the way we see ourselves," says Steven McNeil, the gallery's chief curator and director of collections. "(Warhol)'s concepts, like 鈥榚veryone will be famous for 15 minutes,鈥� almost predict what the world has turned into with social media."
The exhibition is awash in colour 鈥� packed with powerful imagery from some of the most influential artists of the Pop Art movement, a cultural phenomenon that emerged in the 1950s and 1960s.
Rooted in satire and social critique, Pop Art challenged traditional notions of high and low art by drawing inspiration from mass media, advertising, and consumer culture. It elevated everyday objects and icons to the status of fine art, blending accessibility with biting commentary.
The collection highlights iconic works such as Roy Lichtenstein's comic-inspired pieces, Tom Wesselmann's bold depictions of 1960s Pop Art, and contemporary works by Takashi Murakami, Banksy, and Mr. Brainwash.
One of the standout series in the exhibition is Warhol's Shot Marilyn prints, which come with an unforgettable backstory.
Back in the day, a visitor to Warhol鈥檚 studio asked if she could "shoot" the new works of Marilyn Munroe. Instead of taking a photo, the visitor shot a hole through the forehead of a stack of Marilyn prints. Initially upset, Warhol later transformed the incident into art, creating a series of prints that incorporated the damage, now famously known as the Shot Marilyn pieces.
Lichtenstein's Whaam! depicts a fighter jet firing a rocket that obliterates an enemy plane in a fiery explosion, a critique against the glamorization of war and violence. Banksy's Girl with Balloon, on the other hand, portrays a child reaching for a red, heart-shaped balloon, symbolizing fleeting innocence and hope amidst societal struggles.
The From Warhol to Banksy exhibition originated at the Kelowna Art Gallery, where it was curated by Christine May.
Banksy's section in the exhibition stands out for its focus on activism and contemporary issues. Banksy, unlike Andy Warhol, deliberately avoids celebrity and instead uses his anonymity to amplify his critique of societal and political structures, May says.
One of the key attractions is ephemera from Dismaland, Banksy鈥檚 dystopian theme park from 2015, such as theme park balloons and dollars. Banksy鈥檚 works in the exhibit address poignant themes like anti-war rhetoric and political critiques, with pieces such as Consumer Jesus 鈥� depicting Jesus on the cross carrying shopping bags 鈥� and Comrade Mona Lisa, which critiques Russian politics.
"With Banksy, there are much heavier undertones that are relevant to what's happening in the world today. There's a piece in the exhibition that's quite controversial called Consumer Jesus, depicting Jesus on the cross but carrying shopping bags. These can be jarring to some people, but really it is so that they can walk away with questions and, you know, maybe find ways to be critical of what's happening in the world themselves.鈥�
Visitors are encouraged to take non-flash photos and share their experiences online, and who knows, maybe they鈥檒l get their 15 minutes of fame.
The exhibition runs at the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria from Dec. 14, 2024, to April 27, 2025.
