When Andy Warhol moved to New York City in 1949, the city was in the midst of an enormous building boom and was revelling in its new status as one of the great cities of the world. At the same time, artists were adapting to the new post-war urban reality, where the city, capitalism, consumerism and mass media reigned.

In the 1950s the Pop Art movement emerged and by the 1960s Andy Warhol was a household name. During this time, New York thrived as the leading global commercial and artistic city, serving as a testing ground for new social values and artistic practice.

Ai Weiwei moved to New York in 1981, where he stayed for twelve years before returning to Beijing in 1993. Ai Weiwei’s time in New York was integral to his artistic development.

Explore New York and the influence this city had on Andy Warhol and Ai Weiwei’s life and work with Dr Barbara Keys and Dr Tara McDowell.

Speakers Dr Tara McDowell, Associate Professor and Director, Curatorial Practice, Monash University Art Design & Architecture and Dr Barbara Keys, Associate Professor of History, School of Historical and Philosophical Studies, The University of Melbourne