When Pop Art comes to mind, so does the name Andy Warhol. As one of the most celebrated figures in modern art, Warhol (along with his upbringing, famous friends, and penchant for tomato-soup lunches) is the subject of countless books, films, scholarly discourses, and, of course, exhibitions. Though so much about the artist and filmmaker is common knowledge, we’ve managed to dig up some little-known facts about him in honor of what would have been his 88th birthday on August 6.
1. He illustrated a cookbook.
Early in his career, Warhol (then an advertising illustrator) collaborated with interior designer Suzie Frankfurt on the cookbook Wild Raspberries, named after the film Wild Strawberries. The duo produced a few dozen copies together, giving many of them to friends as holiday gifts.
2. He wanted to open a restaurant.
Inspired by the automats of the 1950s, Warhol had a dream of opening a similarly styled restaurant. He planned to call it Andy-Mat.
3. He produced three TV shows.
It’s no surprise that someone as enamored with celebrity and show business as Warhol would dabble in television production. Between 1979 and 1987, the artist served as the executive producer on three shows: Fashion, Andy Warhol’s T.V., and Andy Warhol’s Fifteen Minutes.
4. He regularly volunteered.
Warhol was raised in a religious home and stayed true to his Catholic roots in many regards. He is said to have volunteered at homeless shelters on a regular basis.
5. He was a dog lover.
Most Warhol fans can recall the famous black-and-white portrait of the artist with his beloved dachshund Archie. But many people don’t know that Warhol also had a soft spot for pugs. He often spent time with the pugs of Brigid Berlin, and archival photos show Warhol walking a pug in Manhattan in the 1980s.
