Artist Research: Andy Warhol
Andy Warhol was a leading figure in the Pop Art movement, known for his bold use of colour, repetition, and graphic compositions. His work often transformed everyday objects and cultural icons into visually striking artworks using flat colours, high contrast, and screen-print style techniques. Instead of focusing on realism, Warhol focused on visual impact, simplification, and strong design elements, which made his work feel modern, energetic, and instantly recognisable. His use of repeated imagery and limited but vibrant colour palettes created a sense of rhythm and movement across his compositions.
This relates strongly to my project because my theme is movement and I am creating car posters and animations using simplified shapes and bold visuals. Similar to Warhol’s approach, my digital poster of the Volkswagen Golf uses high contrast colours, graphic outlines, and a stylised layout rather than realistic shading. His idea of turning objects into graphic icons links directly to how I am presenting the car not just as a vehicle, but as a visual symbol of motion, speed, and design. Warhol’s influence also connects to my animation frames, where I simplify details and focus more on composition, colour, and impact instead of complex rendering.
A very relevant example is the BMW M1 Art Car inspired by Warhol. In 1979, Warhol painted the BMW M1 as part of the BMW Art Car project, using bright, expressive brushstrokes directly onto the car’s body. Unlike traditional car designs, he used vibrant colours like red, blue, yellow, and green blended together to visually represent speed and motion. The colours were not just decorative, they were meant to capture the feeling of the car moving fast, almost like motion trails across the surface. This idea connects to my project because I am also using colour and stylisation to show movement in my posters and animation, rather than realistic detail.
Overall, Warhol’s work inspires me to be more experimental with colour, layout, and graphic style in my car poster designs. His approach shows that cars can be treated as artistic subjects, not just technical drawings, which fits perfectly with my theme of movement and my focus on stylised automotive visuals.
