--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: That is what [Andy] Warhol portraits do…" description: "\"That is what [Andy] Warhol portraits do: They elevate the subject into an icon of the pop culture he was documenting.\" — Giorgio Armani" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fde/giorgio-armani-2730_culture_that-is-what-andy-warhol-portraits-do-th_998503.jpg" --- # That is what \[Andy\] Warhol portraits do: They elevate the… ![“That is what [Andy] Warhol portraits do: They elevate the subject into an icon of the pop culture he was documenting.” quote by Giorgio Armani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fde/giorgio-armani-2730_culture_that-is-what-andy-warhol-portraits-do-th_998503.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fde/giorgio-armani-2730_culture_that-is-what-andy-warhol-portraits-do-th_998503.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fde/giorgio-armani-2730_culture_that-is-what-andy-warhol-portraits-do-th_998503.jpg) > “That is what \[Andy\] Warhol portraits do: They elevate the subject into an icon of the pop culture he was documenting.” [Giorgio Armani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giorgio-armani/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Warhol's portraits transform everyday subjects into iconic symbols of the culture they represent. **In simple terms:** Portraits turn subjects into cultural icons. Key Takeaway Recognize how art can elevate ordinary people. Themes art culture iconography celebrity media Mood reflective critical Type analytical commentary When to use this quote - Museum curation - advertising - social media branding - fashion design Key Concepts Pop art symbolism representation Questions to Reflect On - How does turning a person into an icon affect their humanity? - What responsibilities do artists have when shaping cultural symbols? A Different Perspective May oversimplify complex identities into marketable images. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Culture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/culture/) [Icons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/icons/) [Painting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/painting/) [Pop culture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pop-culture/) [Warhol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/warhol/) ## Related quotes > [I think his portraits of Jackie, Liz, Marilyn, Mao, Elvis, Lenin - and objects like the soup cans, the dollar signs, the hammer and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-colacello/i-think-his-portraits-of-jackie-liz-marilyn-mao-elvis-lenin-and/) [Bob Colacello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-colacello/) > [If Abstract Expression reached for the sublime, Pop turned ordinary imagery into icons. Roy Lichtenstein and Andy Warhol illuminated the transformative power of context…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arne-glimcher/if-abstract-expression-reached-for-the-sublime-pop-turned-ordinary/) [Arne Glimcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arne-glimcher/) > [There is a danger in becoming an icon, as people can see you as remote and untouchable, and they are less willing to tolerate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giorgio-armani/there-is-a-danger-in-becoming-an-icon-as-people-can-see-you-as-remote/) [Giorgio Armani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giorgio-armani/) > [For my art GCSE, I did a screen print of the Queen's head that was basically an Andy Warhol rip-off, but I didn't realise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexa-chung/for-my-art-gcse-i-did-a-screen-print-of-the-queen-s-head-that-was/) [Alexa Chung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexa-chung/) > [Even Andy Warhol had a copy of '666.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demis-roussos/even-andy-warhol-had-a-copy-of-666/) [Demis Roussos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demis-roussos/) > [I have done only two portraits: one of the artist Francesco Clemente and another of Andy Warhol.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-michel-basquiat/i-have-done-only-two-portraits-one-of-the-artist-francesco-clemente/) [Jean-Michel Basquiat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-michel-basquiat/) > [ My work doesn't have the same rules as, say, Andy \[Warhol\]'s work. But it's gathered together for the simple reason that we all worked… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claes-oldenburg/my-work-doesn-t-have-the-same-rules-as-say-andy-warhol-s-work-but-it/) [Claes Oldenburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claes-oldenburg/) > [Andy Warhol is the only genius I've ever known with an I.Q. of 60.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/andy-warhol-is-the-only-genius-i-ve-ever-known-with-an-i-q-of-60/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [If you're trying to work the art game, if you're like Andy Warhol or something, then you're in with cake-eaters of society. You want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-crumb/if-you-re-trying-to-work-the-art-game-if-you-re-like-andy-warhol-or/) [Robert Crumb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-crumb/) > [Andy Warhol says everyone will be famous for 15 minutes in the future, but even he couldn't have imagine today's fame is due to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-kaufman/andy-warhol-says-everyone-will-be-famous-for-15-minutes-in-the-future/) [Steve Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-kaufman/) > [I went to the big Picasso retrospective at the Tate in the sixties, and I think I went to an Andy Warhol retrospective at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-faithfull/i-went-to-the-big-picasso-retrospective-at-the-tate-in-the-sixties/) [Marianne Faithfull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-faithfull/) > [I took photos from 1976 to when I left in 1993, primarily for Interview and a column I had called "Bob Colacello's Out" which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-colacello/i-took-photos-from-1976-to-when-i-left-in-1993-primarily-for/) [Bob Colacello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-colacello/) > [I could write an entirely new book about Andy Warhol, but I don't think I will. I certainly don't think Nancy Reagan would like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-colacello/i-could-write-an-entirely-new-book-about-andy-warhol-but-i-don-t/) [Bob Colacello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-colacello/) > [When I was with Andy Warhol, I thought, 'God, his wig looks cheaper than mine!'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolly-parton/when-i-was-with-andy-warhol-i-thought-god-his-wig-looks-cheaper-than/) [Dolly Parton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolly-parton/) > [I've always had the idea that multi-millionaire rock stars should work harder than anyone because they have the ability to do it. Look at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buzz-osborne/i-ve-always-had-the-idea-that-multi-millionaire-rock-stars-should/) [Buzz Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buzz-osborne/) ## More by Giorgio Armani > [I've always had a great interest in sports that embody the values of commitment, hard work and teamwork - all values I strongly believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giorgio-armani/i-ve-always-had-a-great-interest-in-sports-that-embody-the-values-of/) [Giorgio Armani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giorgio-armani/) > [I get really frustrated when people say that a collection is not very 'Armani.' Iconic status can be like a pair of handcuffs, especially…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giorgio-armani/i-get-really-frustrated-when-people-say-that-a-collection-is-not-very/) [Giorgio Armani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giorgio-armani/) > [My philosophy has always been to help women and men feel comfortable and confident through the clothes they wear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giorgio-armani/my-philosophy-has-always-been-to-help-women-and-men-feel-comfortable/) [Giorgio Armani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giorgio-armani/) > [I've always thought of the T-shirt as the Alpha and Omega of the fashion alphabet, ... The White T.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giorgio-armani/i-ve-always-thought-of-the-t-shirt-as-the-alpha-and-omega-of-the/) [Giorgio Armani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giorgio-armani/) > [Clean lines have always been important to me, both in terms of interiors as well as fashion. For interiors, I am more interested in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giorgio-armani/clean-lines-have-always-been-important-to-me-both-in-terms-of/) [Giorgio Armani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giorgio-armani/) > [There are so many things to take into account - your ambition, your ego, the press, the consumers. You can never be sure that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giorgio-armani/there-are-so-many-things-to-take-into-account-your-ambition-your-ego/) [Giorgio Armani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giorgio-armani/) > [Sì is my tribute to modern femininity, an irresistible combination of grace, strength and independent spirit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giorgio-armani/s-is-my-tribute-to-modern-femininity-an-irresistible-combination-of/) [Giorgio Armani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giorgio-armani/) > [I like to think that when an athlete wears Armani, it makes him or her feel confident, and as we all know, confidence is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giorgio-armani/i-like-to-think-that-when-an-athlete-wears-armani-it-makes-him-or-her/) [Giorgio Armani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giorgio-armani/) > [I love things that age well - things that don't date, that stand the test of time and that become living examples of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giorgio-armani/i-love-things-that-age-well-things-that-don-t-date-that-stand-the/) [Giorgio Armani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giorgio-armani/) > [I don't like women who follow fashion in the sense of becoming victims of it. I like women who have elegance, who have allure,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giorgio-armani/i-don-t-like-women-who-follow-fashion-in-the-sense-of-becoming/) [Giorgio Armani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giorgio-armani/) > [A well-maintained physique is a great business card. Ideas and intelligence are what matters, but if you have a well-maintained physique, it's better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giorgio-armani/a-well-maintained-physique-is-a-great-business-card-ideas-and/) [Giorgio Armani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giorgio-armani/) > [My strong sense of discipline has always been with me, and it also gave me the need for deep affection. I have never been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giorgio-armani/my-strong-sense-of-discipline-has-always-been-with-me-and-it-also/) [Giorgio Armani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giorgio-armani/) > [It's not a good idea to match your shoes with a bag too stringently. Go for subtle similarity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giorgio-armani/it-s-not-a-good-idea-to-match-your-shoes-with-a-bag-too-stringently/) [Giorgio Armani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giorgio-armani/) > [Anyone who is passionate about what they do will have a better chance of connecting with future generations than those who simply follow transient…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giorgio-armani/anyone-who-is-passionate-about-what-they-do-will-have-a-better-chance/) [Giorgio Armani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giorgio-armani/) > [I know that people who have been closely involved with my work for many years are terrified of having to answer to someone else,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giorgio-armani/i-know-that-people-who-have-been-closely-involved-with-my-work-for/) [Giorgio Armani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giorgio-armani/) [Explore all 149 Giorgio Armani quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giorgio-armani/) ## More Andy warhol quotes > [I've always had the idea that multi-millionaire rock stars should work harder than anyone because they have the ability to do it. Look at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buzz-osborne/i-ve-always-had-the-idea-that-multi-millionaire-rock-stars-should/) [Buzz Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buzz-osborne/) > [I worked as an artist, played in a band, met Andy Warhol, Christo, Lou Reed, and David Byrne. I had fun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-lou-jepsen/i-worked-as-an-artist-played-in-a-band-met-andy-warhol-christo-lou/) [Mary Lou Jepsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-lou-jepsen/) > [When I was with Andy Warhol, I thought, 'God, his wig looks cheaper than mine!'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolly-parton/when-i-was-with-andy-warhol-i-thought-god-his-wig-looks-cheaper-than/) [Dolly Parton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolly-parton/) > [I could write an entirely new book about Andy Warhol, but I don't think I will. I certainly don't think Nancy Reagan would like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-colacello/i-could-write-an-entirely-new-book-about-andy-warhol-but-i-don-t/) [Bob Colacello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-colacello/) > [“Interviewer: “Andy do you feel that the public has insulted your art?” Andy Warhol: “Uh no.” I: “Why not?” AW: “Uh well I hadn’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-warhol/interviewer-andy-do-you-feel-that-the-public-has-insulted-your-art/) [Andy Warhol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-warhol/) > [I took photos from 1976 to when I left in 1993, primarily for Interview and a column I had called "Bob Colacello's Out" which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-colacello/i-took-photos-from-1976-to-when-i-left-in-1993-primarily-for/) [Bob Colacello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-colacello/) > [I went to the big Picasso retrospective at the Tate in the sixties, and I think I went to an Andy Warhol retrospective at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-faithfull/i-went-to-the-big-picasso-retrospective-at-the-tate-in-the-sixties/) [Marianne Faithfull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-faithfull/) > [Andy Warhol says everyone will be famous for 15 minutes in the future, but even he couldn't have imagine today's fame is due to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-kaufman/andy-warhol-says-everyone-will-be-famous-for-15-minutes-in-the-future/) [Steve Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-kaufman/) > [“Business art is the step that comes after art. I started as a commercial artist, and I want to finish as a business artist.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-warhol/business-art-is-the-step-that-comes-after-art-i-started-as-a/) [Andy Warhol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-warhol/) > [“There is no such thing as notoriety in the United States these days, let alone infamy. Celebrity is all.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/there-is-no-such-thing-as-notoriety-in-the-united-states-these-days/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [If you're trying to work the art game, if you're like Andy Warhol or something, then you're in with cake-eaters of society. You want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-crumb/if-you-re-trying-to-work-the-art-game-if-you-re-like-andy-warhol-or/) [Robert Crumb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-crumb/) > [Andy Warhol is the only genius I've ever known with an I.Q. of 60.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/andy-warhol-is-the-only-genius-i-ve-ever-known-with-an-i-q-of-60/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [ My work doesn't have the same rules as, say, Andy \[Warhol\]'s work. But it's gathered together for the simple reason that we all worked… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claes-oldenburg/my-work-doesn-t-have-the-same-rules-as-say-andy-warhol-s-work-but-it/) [Claes Oldenburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claes-oldenburg/) > [I have done only two portraits: one of the artist Francesco Clemente and another of Andy Warhol.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-michel-basquiat/i-have-done-only-two-portraits-one-of-the-artist-francesco-clemente/) [Jean-Michel Basquiat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-michel-basquiat/) > [Even Andy Warhol had a copy of '666.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demis-roussos/even-andy-warhol-had-a-copy-of-666/) [Demis Roussos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demis-roussos/) Browse all 76 Andy warhol quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "That is what [Andy] Warhol portraits do: They elevate the subject into an icon of the pop culture he was documenting.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Giorgio Armani" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giorgio-armani/that-is-what-andy-warhol-portraits-do-they-elevate-the-subject-into/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Andy warhol" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giorgio-armani/that-is-what-andy-warhol-portraits-do-they-elevate-the-subject-into/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fde/giorgio-armani-2730_culture_that-is-what-andy-warhol-portraits-do-th_998503.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fde/giorgio-armani-2730_culture_that-is-what-andy-warhol-portraits-do-th_998503.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fde/giorgio-armani-2730_culture_that-is-what-andy-warhol-portraits-do-th_998503.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“That is what [Andy] Warhol portraits do: They elevate the subject into an icon of the pop culture he was…” — Giorgio Armani", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Giorgio Armani", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giorgio-armani/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "That is what [Andy] Warhol portraits...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giorgio-armani/that-is-what-andy-warhol-portraits-do-they-elevate-the-subject-into/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giorgio-armani/that-is-what-andy-warhol-portraits-do-they-elevate-the-subject-into/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```