Andy Warhol Three Times Out

The Hugh Lane Gallery to host the country’s largest ever Warhol exhibition

By Brian Bowe

Culture vultures and Warholics are in for a treat this winter! From October 6th to January 28th, 2024, the Hugh Lane Gallery will host Andy Warhol Three Times Out. This remarkable exhibition has been five years in the making and will feature over 250 works borrowed from the prestigious Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh, as well as other museums and private collections across the United States, Canada, and Europe.

Curated by Barbara Dawson (the director of Hugh Lane Gallery) and Michael Dempsey (the head of exhibitions) this collaboration between Dublin City Council and the gallery promises to be an historic event.

“Hugh Lane Gallery is delighted to present Andy Warhol Three Times Out,” said Dawson. “This exhibition shows how Warhol utterly changed the way the world experiences art. His work explored the relationship between artistic expression and the flourishing consumer culture of the 1960s, new technology and celebrity status, as well as mortality, in a diverse body of works that underpins his artistic genius. As society navigates the age of social media and surveillance capitalism – how our data is being captured and monetized – it is impossible to overlook Warhol’s prescient vision so relevant to us today.”

Visitors to the exhibition will have the opportunity to immerse themselves in a diverse selection of Warhol’s iconic pieces, including his famous Campbell’s Soup Cans, Flowers, and those classic portraits of Marilyn Monroe, Elizabeth Taylor, Jackie Kennedy, and Chairman Mao. The exhibition will also showcase Warhol’s self-portraits, along with works such as skulls, electric chairs, and classic avant-garde films like Empire, Sleep, Kiss, and Outer and Inner Space.

Making this exhibition even more marvellous is the inclusion of Warhol’s Silver Clouds sculpture (pictured). Created in 1966, these ethereal floating metallic pillows, filled with a unique blend of air and helium, gracefully hover mid-air, defying gravity without ever touching the ceiling. As the clouds subtly interact with visitors and each other, unexpected variables, like changes in barometric pressure and occasional collisions, dictate their behaviour. When Silver Clouds was originally unveiled, nearly 60 years ago, they challenged traditional art-viewing norms by inviting tactile engagement while redefining the relationship between the observer and the artwork. In short: it is a must see!

The exhibition will also present a unique section dedicated to exploring the collaborations between Warhol, Francis Bacon and renowned US artist and photographer Peter Beard. This segment aims to ignite fresh perspectives on the significance of these two influential figures of the 20th century.

“I am delighted to announce details of Andy Warhol Three Times Out,” said the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Daithí de Róiste. “This will no doubt be one of the best exhibitions of the year, one that residents of the city should now mark in their diaries.
 

“Dublin City Council and the team at Hugh Lane Gallery deserve great praise for the achievement of producing such a prestigious exhibition for our city. This news will generate excitement not just amongst Irish audiences but will attract international visitors to Dublin to see a Warhol exhibition on this scale.”

Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to Slovakian immigrant parents, Warhol rose to prominence as one of America’s leading commercial artists and one of the most recognisable figures of the 20th-century. His legendary Silver Factory, which flourished in the 1960s, served as a popular hub of creativity, attracting a starry mix of luminaries including Salvador Dalí, Bob Dylan, Truman Capote, and the iconic band The Velvet Underground. 

Since Warhol’s last major show in Ireland at the Irish Museum of Modern Art in 1997, anticipation has been building for this upcoming exhibition at the Hugh Lane Gallery. Promising to surpass its predecessor in scale and ambition (1997’s show only had 100 pieces on show), this immersive journey through Warhol’s personal trajectory is set to captivate both Irish and international audiences alike.

Andy Warhol Three Times Out is a must-see for both art enthusiasts and those curious about the artist’s profound influence on the 20th century cultural landscape. With its unparalleled collection of iconic artworks, exclusive collaborations, and immersive installations, this exhibition is destined to be an unparalleled highlight of the arts calendar year.

Hugh Lane Gallery is located on Parnell Street in Dublin’s city centre and is one of Ireland’s leading museums of modern art.

Tickets for Andy Warhol Three Times Out on sale now. Available online from www.hughlane.ie

Online Ticket Pricing

• Adult (+18) €15
• Children (12 and over) €6
• Family (2 adults & up to 3 children 12 and over) €36
• Concession (Senior 65+/Job Seeker/Unwaged) €10
• Carers – Accompanying carers are free

Free Wednesday Mornings

• All tickets are free between 10am – 12.30pm on Wednesday mornings.
• Online booking is essential to avail of free tickets.
• Free tickets are limited to 4 tickets per person.

Discounted Tickets

• Disability Concession – Visitors with a disability pay the concessionary rate €10 with a valid ID.  
• Carers – Accompanying carers are free.