Wolverhampton Art Gallery has announced it will host Andy Warhol: Art Star, an ARTIST ROOMS exhibition in partnership with Tate and National Galleries of Scotland, opening on 23 May 2026.

This major exhibition includes both iconic and lesser-known drawings, screenprints, paintings and photographs from the 1950s-1980s, including images of Marilyn Monroe, The Beatles, Elizabeth Taylor and the famous ‘Campbell’s Soup’. 

Andy Warhol (1928-1987) was one of the most influential American artists to emerge in the post-war period. A leading figure in the Pop Art movement, he reimagined what art could be at a time of great social, political and technological change.

Wolverhampton Art Gallery has a long association with Pop Art, and holds one of the largest and most significant Pop Art collections in the UK. For this exhibition, one of the key works from Wolverhampton Art Gallery’s collection, Warhol’s’ Campbell’s Soup’, will sit alongside visiting works from the remarkable ARTIST ROOMS national collection.

Andy Warhol: Art Star includes early drawings from Warhol’s time as a commercial illustrator in the 1950s, and iconic painted screenprints and photographic woks featuring Warhol’s artists, friends, filmmakers and celebrities.

Images of Marilyn Monroe, Liz Taylor, and Warhol himself feature alongside icons of American consumerism, as well as symbols of the artist’s fascination with mortality.

Paintings from the 1980s that were never exhibited in his lifetime and a series of Interview magazines of iconic celebrities from the 1980s can be seen, alongside the lesser-known ‘stitched photographs’, which were the focus of his last exhibition before his death.

Known predominantly as a painter and graphic artist, Warhol also produced many films and published magazines and books. His studio, the Factory, brought together artists and musicians from all walks of life, becoming a focal point in the cultural life of New York City in the 1960s and 1970s.

Warhol’s fascination with celebrity and commercial culture produced some of the most recognisable images in 20th century art. Having found success living and working in 1950s New York as an illustrator for magazines, Warhol developed styles and techniques which propelled him to the centre of America’s cultural scene. He constructed a distinct style and identity for himself that was instantly recognisable. His face and image became an integral part of his brand.

Children and young people aged 20 and under will benefit from free tickets for the life of the exhibition. Standard entry is £9, with other concessions available.

City of Wolverhampton Cabinet Member for City Development, Jobs and Skills Councillor Chris Burden said, “We’re incredibly proud to welcome back an ARTIST ROOMS exhibition to Wolverhampton Art Gallery through our partnership with Tate and National Galleries of Scotland. Hosting an exhibition by world-renowned artist Andy Warhol, here in our city is a testament to Wolverhampton’s growing reputation as a cultural destination, and I encourage everyone - especially our young people, who can visit free of charge - to come and be inspired by the strength and spirit of Warhol’s work.”

ARTIST ROOMS presents the work in international artists in solo exhibitions, drawn from a national touring collection jointly owned by Tate and the National Galleries of Scotland. The programme is developed through local partnerships to reach audiences across the UK.

Andy Warhol: Art Star, An ARTIST ROOMS Partnership Exhibition with Tate and National Galleries of Scotland, will be at Wolverhampton Art Gallery from 23 May - 4 October 2026. More information and tickets at wolverhamptonart.org.uk.

Image credit:Andy Warhol (1928-1987)Campbell’s Soup(1968) Courtesy Wolverhampton ArtGallery © The Andy Warhol Foundation for theVisual Arts, Inc. /DACS, London,2026. Trademarks Licensed by Campbell Soup Company. All Rights Reserved