Bring Andy Warhol to Houston, TX

Short Summary

Rob Pruitt’s The Andy Monument was organized by Public Art Fund and was originally on view in Union Square, New York, March 30, 2011 – September 4, 2012; the exhibition was curated by Nicholas Baume, Director and Chief Curator, Public Art Fund.  The Contemporary Arts Museum Houston (CAMH) would like to showcase The Andy Monument at a new location - on our front lawn at the corner of Montrose and Bissonnet in the heart of the Museum District in Houston, TX. Andy Warhol was (is) an icon of pop culture, art and innovation. Rob Pruitt, a contemporary artist inspired by Warhol, created The Andy Monument as a tribute to the late artist. The sculpture is based on a combination of digital scanning of a live model and hand sculpting. Its surface is finished in chrome and the seven-foot-tall figure stands a top a concrete pedestal. It depicts Warhol as a ghostly, silver presence: a potent cultural force as both artist and self-created myth. 

CAMH is a leading destination located in Houston, TX for contemporary art. Bringing The Andy Monument to the front lawn of the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston in the heart of the Museum District will bring a part of Andy’s legacy to Houstonians and visitors of all ages and backgrounds. As the sculpture became a landmark to the people of New York City, we hope the same will be true for Houstonians and its visitors. The impact Andy Warhol had on history is hard to measure but no doubt is relevant to our current culture. Andy’s presence will engage his visitors and open dialogue about his work and contemporary art. CAMH reaches audiences of over 150,000 each year and recently started a new initiative to use its lawn space as an outdoor exhibition area for sculptures, attracting and engaging visitors to the Museum and surrounding Museum District. 

Who was Andy Warhol?

Andy Warhol (1928-1987) was an American artist and is considered the quintessential Pop Artist celebrating fame, wealth and glamour and in so doing changed the course of both popular culture and art history - inspiring most artists who have risen to fame in the past 30 years in significant ways. In his larger-than-life persona, Warhol remains one of New York's enduring icons. Today his iconic images of the Campbell Soup Can, Elvis or Marilyn are so ubiquitous they appear safe, but it's not hard to remember how strange and downright dangerous these were when they were first hung in museums.

Who are we?

The Contemporary Arts Museum Houston is a non-collecting institution dedicated to presenting the best and most exciting international, national, and regional art.

Our mission: CAMH is a leading destination to experience innovative art. CAMH actively encourages public engagement with its exhibitions through its educational programs, publications, and online presences.

Our motto: ALWAYS FRESH, ALWAYS FREE

Other Ways You Can Help

• Spread the word! Tell your friends, family - even strangers about bringing Andy to Houston.
• Make sure you and your friends come visit Andy when he arrives and take your photo with The Andy Monument.
• Post your photos with Andy to CAMH’s Facebook page, twitter page, or geotag and tag us through instagram at #camh.
• Visit CAMH – we are ALWAYS FREE!

CAMH AND HOUSTON THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF THIS PROJECT! (We’d like to think Andy would thank you, too.)

We want to thank our friends at Public Art Fund for their wonderful support. 

 Rob Pruitt: The Andy Monument was organized by Public Art Fund, New York.