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        Andy Warhol and Ana Mendieta were evolutionary artists that contributed a significant influence to contrasting artistic styles. Warhol began as a child of immigrant parents who suffered from a nervous disorder, but originally introduced his works as comical and light toned. Mendieta arrived in the United States with her sister as refugees from Cuba at a very young age. She had a powerful impression on body and land art primarily including themes of violence. Both artists share hardships, fame, and motives that influenced their forms and techniques. These artists invented themselves through distinctive themes in their works, personal life experiences, and the use of diverse artistic styles.

   Mendieta and Warhol share unfortunate life experiences that reflect the themes and representation of their work. Poverty, trauma, and loss affected both significantly, but they were able transform these feelings into art. Without realization, inventors often reflect their personal identity in their pieces, “the ubiquity of deception in popular culture is an invitation to consider the possibility that behind the surface of appearances there are other realities” (Finkelstein, 2). Warhol began his career with comical works which escalated into gruesome, challenging, and intimate experiences. Works such as, “The Last Supper (1986)” and “Self Portrait (1986)” are reflections of his religious beliefs, community devotion, and actual physical appearance. Growing up as a devoted catholic, volunteering at homeless shelters, and reinventing an image of himself are expressions of his lived experiences.

           Mendieta’s use of performance, body art, and the environment depicted her personal experiences of losing her family at a young age, growing up as an orphan, and racism in a foreign country. Her nude body, blood and elemental objects show how her work “is manifest in her gestures, voice, opinions, expressions, clothes, chosen surroundings, taste-indeed there is nothing she can do which does not contribute to her presence”(Berger, 46). Mendieta appears in her purest form in self-portraits such as “Untitled (Siluetas Series) (1976)” and “Untitled (Image from Yagul) (1973). The Siluetas series focuses on her contribution to land art going beyond just a canvas and into natural environment. In both, the relationship to nature, homeland, feminist characteristics, and interest in religious rituals are communicated. Warhol and Mendieta had the ability to become their art and portray their identity.

   

      Becoming synonymous with one's work is specially depicted by Mendieta, who literally was her art pieces. Nude images, performances, and photoshoots were the main focus of her work, and often focused on domestic violence or violent events She recognizes the beauty in the art of a woman’s body, “to be naked is to be without disguise. To be on display is to have the surface of one’s own skin, the hairs of one’s own body, turned into a disguise, which, in that situation can never be discarded”( Berger,54). Mendieta believed that through her work she was able to connect to the earth goddess, religion, death, and life. She rebelled against society’s gender expectations, and was empathetic towards those who faced similar struggles as she did throughout her childhood. Using her body as a canvas, her use of nature, land, and earth made her into an inspirational artist that highly influenced modern works.

       The use of particular materials, techniques, and themes are what construct works of art. Warhol focused on Pop art through his commercial advertisements, criticism of the public and abstract expression. His works such as “Campbell's Soup Cans (1962)”, “Coca Cola (1962)”, and his film “Sleep (1963)” are works that use ordinary subjects to create masterpieces. He used techniques of appealing to the public, repetition, and personal connection to homosexuality and gay culture (The Art Story, 2018). Mendieta was very original using her body as a canvas with dirt, leaves, water, and hair to compose her pieces. Domestic violence, rape, gender roles, Catholicism, fertility and feminism are themes expressed. Physical pieces such as “Untitled (Blood and Feathers #2) (1974)”, “Untitled (Rape Scene) (1973)”, and “Untitled (Facial Hair Transplant) (1972)” represent her persona and deep connection to the world. Facing hardships of solitude, sexism, and dislocation from family formed her desire to make everyone in society recognized regardless of their status. The subjects in the works of both artists are very distinct from each other, but contain significant meaning.

       Warhol became synonymous with his work particularly relating to pop culture, which can be highly demanding and difficult to keep up with. As modern society and definition of fame are constantly changing he elevated his persona from nervous and impoverished to someone successful and contemporary, “while popular culture always appears self-evidential and natural, it is also the case that its depictions of everyday reality have a short lifespan; they are heavily glossed by ideology, and after a time this becomes more visible and less persuasive. We grow immune to the familiar” (Finkelstein, 10). Fame plays a large role in the lifespan of an artist’s work; they cannot succeed without the desire of the public for new work and ideas. His work inspired the American Popular Culture movement, and interpreted sorrow for public events, appealed to the public, and consisted of common items relatable to society. Warhol’s work was adventurous, experimental, abstract, and contained simplicity that illustrated his complex ideas while satisfying his viewers.

     Andy Warhol and Ana Mendieta were both highly influential artists who contributed their ideas and dedication to important art movements. Although, their works were very different they rose from solitude, poverty, and difficulties to become legendary figures. Warhol focused on engaging the public through relatable concepts and his personal experiences with society. He unfortunately passed away at a very young age during a surgery. Mendieta also had an unfortunate controversial death when she fell from a 33 foot story tall apartment building, which was a resemblance of her work based on violence. Over all, the artists were creative, innovative, and prominent figures in art history that evolutionized generations.

Work Cited 

· Berger, John. Ways of Seeing; a Book Made by John Berger. British Broadcasting Corporation and Penguin Books, 1972.
· Finkelstein, Joanne. The Art of Self Invention: Image and Identity in Popular Visual Culture. I.B. Tauris, 2007.
· “Andy Warhol Biography, Art, and Analysis of Works.” The Art Story, 2018, www.theartstory.org/artist-warhol-andy.htm.
· “Ana Mendieta Biography, Art, and Analysis of Works.” The Art Story, 2018, www.theartstory.org/artist-mendieta-ana.htm.