Born August 6, 1928, in Pittsburgh under the name of “Andrew Warhola.” He graduated in 1949 from the Carnegie Institute of Technology in Pittsburgh. His first solo exhibition was held 1952 at Hugo Gallery, New York, showing his drawings. In 1956, Warhol embarked on a six-week round-the-world trip with a friend, which also led him to Japan. Following Marilyn Monroe’s death on August 5, 1962, he created his iconic “Marilyn” in the same year. Since 1963 he was also active as a film maker, and survived an assassination attempt in 1968. Warhol came a second time to Japan in 1974, for his solo exhibition at the Daimaru Department Store. He died in 1987.

In 1983, when we organized the exhibition “Andy Warhol: All Countries,” I asked Warhol if he could design an edition themed on Japanese flowers, having the works printed by Japanese printmakers. He agreed, and I went to New York for the first time, carrying with me more than thousand of finished sheets of “Chrysanthemum,” and “Love,” to have them signed. He suggested, “I could paint you as well,” and in hindsight, I still regret that I hesitated to accept his offer. When in 1989 I came again to visit the Factory, he was no more…