Tate Launches Free Virtual Tours Of Andy Warhol And Aubrey Beardsley Exhibitions

With cultural activities on pause during the COVID-19 crisis, Tate has announced that it is bringing some of its biggest blockbuster 2020 exhibitions to your home.

The London-based modern art museum will release a virtual tour of Andy Warhol at the Tate Modern, a mega expo chronicling his career from lowly Pittsburgh-born artist to international pop-art icon. The film, which will launch online next week, features a tour led by Gregor Muir, director of Tate’s collection of international art, and Fiontán Moran, assistant curator. Viewers will see 100 artworks from the exhibition and learn how Warhol helped shape a century’s worth of pop culture, as well as how he helped launch the cult of celebrity.

In addition, you’ll also be able to delve into articles exploring the artist’s life, including Warhol’s complex relationship with his mother Julia Warhola; the legend behind his underrated Ladies and Gentleman paintings; and personal accounts of the artist from his close friend Bob Colacello.

As art is all about interaction, Tate has also launched a series of Warhol-themed podcasts, discussing how the roles of persona can play an important role in life and art through conversations with artists, performers and various DJs. And as a bonus, try the onsite ‘How To’ video that will teach you how to recreate Warhol's prints at home in isolation.

Following Warhol, on April 13 Tate will launch another online journey around its Aubrey Beardsley exhibition. Beardsley, who tragically died at the young age of 25, was famous for his black ink drawings, influenced by the grotesque, decadent and erotic Japanese woodcuts of the Edo period. Led by Tate Britain curator Caroline Corbeau-Parsons and assistant curator of historic British art Alice Insley, a short film will display and explore 200 of his works. The digital tour will also feature historian Stephen Calloway and drag performer Holly James Johnston, who will be talking all things Beardsley, drag, gender and the joy of being a dandy.

Andy Warhol at Tate launches on Monday, 6 April and is followed by Aubrey Beardsley on Monday, 13 April. Explore both at tate.org.uk.

This article originally appeared on Harper’s BAZAAR UK.

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