Roy Lichtenstein

Roy Lichtenstein was an American Artist who was one of the key figures of the Pop Art movement in the art world. His bright and colorful graphic works are majorly inspired and influenced by comic strips and advertisements. His works acted as a parody of pop and art culture. Lichtenstein was born in 1923 in New York City, he enjoyed science and comic books as a child. He went on to attend Ohio State University to pursue a fine arts degree. However his education was halted when he was drafted to the military in 1943. After his service, he returned to Ohio State University, earning his bachelor’s and master’s degrees, both in fine art. Through the 1950’s he drew inspiration from mythology, American history and folklore. It was not until the 1960’s he began to experiment more and draw his inspiration from the same articles he enjoyed as a child. Therefore he started to use imagery from comic books and advertising, which propagated some of his most famous works.

Lichtenstein’s graphic works have been included in many exhibitions all across the country. He has completed countless commissions for a variety of museums, political groups and music and film festivals. In 1994, a major display of his graphic prints were shown at the National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C. Many of his other works are included in collections such as the Museum of Modern Art, New York; San Francisco Museum of Modern Art; Huntington Museum of Art; West Virginia and Chrysler Museum of Art, Norfolk, Virginia.

Lichtenstein died in September of 1997, aged 73 years.