Each- 8 x 5", acrylic on gessoed hardboard
paintings # 252 & 251, 2017
Five years ago in 2012, the Campbell Soup Company would issue a limited edition of four Andy Warhol inspired labels for their Tomato Soup to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Warhol's first important solo exhibition that comprised of the 32 varieties Campbell Soup was offering at the time. The show was held at the Ferus Gallery in Los Angeles in 1962. The collection would eventually be acquired by the Museum of Modern Art in NYC in 1996 by bequest/gift/purchase.
MOMA, visit Nov. 2010
The Warhol edition of 1,2 million cans of Campbell's condensed tomato soup were sold at Target Store in the USA for 75 cents each. A former co-worker was vacationing in Maine at the time and was able to get me a full set of 4. It was the third time that Campbell Soup would honour the Pop Art icon with these signature cans; the first being in 2003 for the Eagles Grocery Stores chain (Pittsburgh) and at Barney's during the Holiday season of 2006.
The Campbell Soup Company did approve of Warhol Soup Can Art since it provided them with some unsolicited free publicity as this letter can attest. In 1993, the company would buy a Warhol painting of one of his tomato soup cans to hang in the boardroom of there headquarters.
During the promotion and sale of these special edition cans, the Campbell's Facebook page was offering 15 minutes of fame to their followers. I was the 100th to enjoy my Art of Soup moment!
Part of my two-person show with Yvon Gallant entitled ''HARVEST'' at the Fog Forest Gallery from October 12 - November 8, 2017.
Opening reception - Thursday October 12, 6:30- 8:00 pm
Fog Forest Gallery
14 Bridge Street
Sackville, NB, Canada
(506) 536-9000
Website- http://fogforestgallery.ca
