Andy Warhol ICONS Exhibition, Wanneroo

It’s not every day you can stand in front of an iconic image, produced by a famous artist, worth millions of dollars, and not have to travel over east or overseas to do so. Yet that it precisely the experience on offer currently at Wanneroo Regional Art Gallery. As the first regional gallery to take advantage of the National Gallery’s “Sharing the National Collection” program, 50 works, worth $148 million have been taken out of storage and sent west.

Inspired by the bright colourful iconography adorning his childhood church, Warhol used these bright colours to elevate modern cultural idols to God-like status. Famous iconic images such as Marilyn (1967), Elvis (1963) and Cambell’s Soup Cans (1968) are on display and supported by a screening of a Warhol documentary and audio interview recordings played through 1960’s style rotary phones. To supplement the visual exhibition further, an audio tour is available by scanning a QR code at the gallery entrance.

A separate QR code can also be scanned to create augmented reality. By viewing the artwork through your phone camera lens the art appears to move. Marilyn will turn so you can see her best angles, Elvis will shake his famous pelvis and the soup cans will spin to the tune of a Studio 54 soundtrack.

Unlike Warhol’s famous quip about being famous for 15 minutes, the Warhol ICONS exhibition runs until 4th May. After that a reduced capsule collection of rotating works will be on display until 2026.

The Wanneroo Regional Gallery is located upstairs (accessible via elevator) in the Wanneroo Cultural Centre, 3 Rocca Way, Wanneroo and is open 10am -4pm, Wednesday to Saturday. Entry is Free.

Find out more at www.wanneroo.wa.gov.au/andy_warhol_icons_exhibition

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About Chris & Wayne Bullard

Retirees Chris and Wayne Bullard have 2 kids and 6 grandkids. They love the "grey nomad" lifestyle having been around Australia a couple of times and are going around again!