Andy Warhol was a leading figure in the pop art movement and is considered one of the most important artists of the second half of the 20th century. His works explore the relationship between artistic expression, advertising, and celebrity culture that flourished in the 1960s. His versatile art spans various media, including painting, sculpture, photography, and filmmaking. Some of his best-known works include the silkscreen paintings Campbell's Soup Cans (1962) and Marilyn Diptych (1962), as well as the experimental film Chelsea Girls (1966) and the multimedia events known as the Exploding Plastic Inevitable (1966–67). Warhol expressed his queer identity through many of his works at a time when homosexuality was actively suppressed in the United States.

Born and raised in Pittsburgh to a family of Rusyn immigrants, Warhol initially pursued a successful career as a commercial illustrator in the 1950s. After gaining recognition in art galleries during the 1960s, his New York studio, The Factory, became a well-known gathering place for intellectuals, drag queens, Hollywood celebrities, and wealthy patrons. Warhol directed several underground films starring Warhol superstars and is credited with inspiring the expression "15 minutes of fame." He also managed and produced the experimental rock band The Velvet Underground.

After surviving an assassination attempt by radical feminist Valerie Solanas in June 1968, Warhol transformed The Factory into a business enterprise. He founded Interview magazine and authored numerous books, including The Philosophy of Andy Warhol (1975) and Popism: The Warhol Sixties (1980). He hosted television series such as Fashion (1979–80), Andy Warhol's TV (1980–83), and Andy Warhol's Fifteen Minutes (1985–87).

Warhol has been described as the "bellwether of the art market," with his works ranking among the most expensive paintings ever sold. In 2013, Silver Car Crash (Double Disaster) (1963) sold for $105 million, and in 2022, Shot Sage Blue Marilyn (1964) sold for $195 million. The Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh, holding an extensive permanent collection of art and archives, is the largest museum in the United States dedicated to a single artist.