Rob Pruitt, The Andy Monument

UPPER LEVEL

Rob Pruitt

2005

The Andy Monument, a 10-foot statue created by Robb Pruitt, is a tribute to the artist who drove pop art into the national limelight in the 1960s. Pruitt is a contemporary American artist whose work is often laced with ironic social and political commentary. He has been exhibited throughout the world, including in the Museum of Contemporary Art in Detroit, the Palazzo delle Esposizioni in Rome, LAND in Los Angeles, and the Museum of Modern Art in Warsaw.
The chrome-covered statue, which originally appeared outside the Warhol Factory in Union Square, NY, was crafted through digital scanning of a model combined with sculpting by hand. Warhol’s fully-suited figure rests atop a double pedestal in silent homage to the late artist’s powerful influence on culture and art. The statue’s shiny silver finish further adds to Warhol’s aura of success, brilliance and glamor.
Pruitt was deeply inspired by Warhol, moving to New York and seeking a job at the Factory, where he met the artist. Discussing The Andy Monument, Pruitt stated: “Like so many other artists and performers and people who don’t fit in because they’re gay or otherwise different, Andy moved here to become who he was, to fulfill his dreams and make it big. He still represents that courage and that possibility. That’s why I came to New York, and that’s what my Andy Monument is about.”