CHARLOTTE, N.C.- The iconic works of Andy Warhol, one of the most influential artists of the 20th century, will be on display at the Mint Museum of Art beginning this October. The landmark exhibition Andy Warhol Portfolios: Life & Legends presents rarely seen selections from Bank of America’s prized Warhol collection. Sponsored by Bank of America, the exhibition will be on view October 4, 2008 – February 15, 2009.

“Warhol’s enduring influence on American art establishes him as one of the most important artists of our time,” said Phil Kline, Executive Director of The Mint Museum. “We are grateful to Bank of America for their generous sponsorship of this exhibition, which will enable viewers to experience and discover anew the profound impact of his art.”

“Arts institutions are critical not only to quality of life in Charlotte, but also to our region’s economy,” said Charles Bowman, North Carolina and Charlotte market president for Bank of America. “Bank of America is pleased to build on its long-standing partnership with the Mint to provide this prized collection of Warhol works. This exhibition is the latest from our program of lending exhibitions to museums throughout the country and we are delighted to provide this service to museums and their visitors. The reaction to this program has been tremendous -- more than 30 exhibitions from the Bank of America Collection are scheduled for loans over the next 24 months.”

In addition to this collaboration, the Mint Museum of Art is also part of Bank of America’s Museums on Us™ program. Through this program, anyone with a Bank of America ATM, credit or check card has the opportunity to gain free admission to over 70 museums in 28 markets across the country, including the Mint, during the first Saturday and Sunday of each month.

Andy Warhol (1928-1987), born Andrew Warhola, became the central figure of the Pop Art movement that emerged in the United States in the 1950s. The 1960s was an extremely prolific decade for Warhol. Appropriating images from popular culture, Warhol created paintings and silkscreens that remain icons of 20th century art, such as the Campbell’s Soup Cans, Disasters and Marilyns. Warhol, as an artist and an avant-garde filmmaker, became a renowned celebrity who created often controversial works. His art has been the subject of numerous exhibitions and is highly collected.

Andy Warhol Portfolios: Life & Legends spans the artist’s career from the 1950s through 1986, and features key early works from landmark series such as Endangered Species, Flowers, Jews, Myths, Muhammad Ali and Space Fruits. Using mass production techniques to create works, Warhol erased traditional distinctions between fine art and pop culture. From household objects to Hollywood starlets, Warhol’s subjects captured the essence of American culture.

The exhibition will be accompanied by a variety of educational opportunities, including the following:

Special lecture – Sunday, October 5, 3:00 p.m. at the Mint Museum of Art. Free with museum admission. Free for museum members. Dr. Tom Sokolowski, director of The Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh, will discuss the life and art of this iconic figure in the history of American art.

Friends of the Mint Lecture – Friday, October 17, 10:30 a.m. at the Mint Museum of Art. Free with museum admission. Free for museum members. Mike Watson, fashion instructor at The Art Institute of Charlotte, will discuss Pop Art and Andy Warhol’s influence on design.

Curator’s Tour – Thursdays, November 6 and December 4, 2:00 p.m. at the Mint Museum of Art. Free with museum admission. Free for museum members. Charles Mo, Director of Fine Arts, conducts a tour of the Andy Warhol exhibition. Space is limited and registration is requested by calling 704/337-2098.

Target Family Fun Saturday: Make a Print at the Mint – Saturday, November 8, 10:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. at the Mint Museum of Art. Kids free when accompanied by a paying adult. Free for museum members. Children and adults alike can create their own Warhol-inspired masterpiece!

Charlotte Symphony: Warhol and the Waterfront – November 14 and 15, 8:00 p.m. at Halton Theater, Central Piedmont Community College. Single ticket sales begin August 11: $10-$20. Call 704/972-2000. Sight and sound come together as iconic images by Warhol are married to Philip Glass’s minimalist masterpiece, “String Symphony No. 3.”

Panel Discussion: Pop Art/Pop Culture Post-Warhol – Sunday, November 16, 3:00 p.m. at the Mint Museum of Art. Free with museum admission. Free for museum members. Experts in fashion, film and music reflect on the changes in their media and popular culture since Warhol. Panelists include: Mike Watson, fashion instructor at The Art Institute of Charlotte; Sam Shapiro, manager of music and movies at the Public Library of Charlotte & Mecklenburg County; and Alan Yamamoto, resident conductor of the Charlotte Symphony.

Andy Warhol on Film – Mondays, January 12, 19 and 25, 7:00 p.m. at the Public Library of Charlotte & Mecklenburg County, Main Library. Free. Ric Burns’ epic film, Andy Warhol: A Documentary Film, will change what you think you know about the famed Pop artist. Part I will be shown on January 12, Part II January 19. On January 25, watch A Walk in the Sea: Danny Williams & the Warhol Factory, a riveting inquiry into the disappearance of Danny Williams, a young filmmaker linked to Warhol.

Friends of the Mint Lecture – Friday, January 16, 10:30 a.m. at the Mint Museum of Art. Free with museum admission. Free for museum members. Gregory Pierce, film and video technician at The Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh, presents Andy Warhol Factory Diaries.

Bank of America and the Arts - The Bank of America Collection is one of the oldest and most significant corporate art collections in the world, reflecting the diversity of artistic expression in America and internationally. These works of art are displayed in museums and Bank of America’s public galleries as well as in corporate offices. As the company has grown in recent decades, the size and scope of the Bank of America Collection has also grown. Today, the collection has been enriched with the art from legacy banks, each with a particular emphasis – regional, thematic, contemporary, and historical.

Bank of America is a leading supporter of arts and culture in the United States. Through a wide variety of programs, Bank of America works to strengthen artistic institutions and provide greater access to treasured works of art for both its customers and those who might not otherwise experience them. Each year the company provides millions of dollars in grants to a wide range of arts organizations, supporting education and access programs and enabling institutions to expand their scope, and underwrites national and local performances, arts programs, and exhibitions. Through the Bank of America Traveling Exhibition and Loan Programs, the bank lends its art collection to museums so they may expand their offerings for the benefit of their communities.