Grows up in Pittsburgh area. During his frequent childhood illness, mother reads him comic books in her thick Czechoslovakian accent, introducing him to the popular culture with which he later became obsessed. Attends Schenley High School.

1949:
Graduates from Carnegie Tech (now Carnegie Mellon) with degree in Pictorial Design. Moves to New York. Becomes a highly successful commercial artist, twice winning Art DirectorÕs Club Award for Distinctive Merit.

1960:
Unsatisfied with commercial art, strives to exhibit in galleries and museums.

1962:
Now-famous Soup Cans series shown for the first time at Ferus Gallery in Los Angeles. Called "genius" by some. Called ÒcontemptuousÓ by others.

1963:
Sets up studio in empty fire house on East 87th Street in New York. Studio becomes known as the Factory. Many different kinds of peopleÑartists and non-artists alikeÑjoin in WarholÕs art making process.

1965:
Announces his retirement from painting to make films. Films never became commercially successful.

1968:
Shot by Valerie Solanis, frequent Warhol visitor. Spends two months in hospital.

1972:
Resumes painting. While no longer shocking, his work still proves unsettling.

1981:
Creates Myths series.

1987:
Dies in New York on February 22 following complications from surgery.