“I like money on the wall. Say you were going to buy a 200 000 painting. I think you should take that money, tie it up and hang it on the wall,” said Andy Warhol in 1975. The new exhibition “Money on the Wall: Andy Warhol,” at Spritmuseum in the heart of Stockholm, examines the concept of Business Art—“the step that follows art,” as Warhol advocated. Curated by Blake Gopnik, art critic and one of the world’s most well-known experts on Warhol, the exhibition focuses on Warhol as a pioneer of the Business Art current, showcasing how he turned the processes of buying and selling into a crucial element of his artistic practice. In the 1950s, Andy Warhol thrived in commercial culture, creating ads and earning well. In the 1960s, he shifted to the uncertain life of an artist, focusing on mass consumption and declaring his commercial activities as art. Instead of simply depicting commerce, Warhol engaged in it directly, producing wallpaper, directing commercials, and even renting out friends as part of his Business Art concept. “Some say Andy Warhol was a sell-out. They are right: selling out was one of his most influential art forms,” says Gopnik.

The exhibition showcases Warhol's work as a commercial artist in the 1950s, during which he was occasionally featured as a model. It includes pieces from his Pop Art era, highlighting his famous portraits of New York socialites and the Absolut Warhol paintings. These works are part of the future Absolut Art Collection and represent one of his most successful ventures into Business Art, marking the beginning of one of the most celebrated advertising campaigns in modern history. Works by postwar artists, such as Yves Klein, Chris Burden, and Lee Lozano, who, like Warhol, integrated business and finance into their art to reflect our economic realities, are also included in the selection. Additionally, the show showcases contemporary artists who explore similar themes, including Darren Bader, Andrea Fraser, Takashi Murakami, Carey Young, and the collective MSCHF. The exhibition will be available for viewing at Spritmuseum in Stockholm until April 27, 2025.
Photo by Markus Olsson Mediabolaget