PITTSBURGH, PA.- The Andy Warhol Museum announces a dynamic renovation of the museum’s first floor featuring a hip lounge area, intriguing multimedia, a cool event space, and a greatly increased retail space for The Warhol Store.

The Warhol’s Director Eric Shiner states, “We have always wanted to make The Warhol more welcoming for our visitors and community members. Through the generous support of several local foundations we have finally been able to rethink the museum’s first floor as a social hub in line with Andy Warhol’s famous Silver Factory. The Factory was a space where high and low, rich and poor, black and white, gay and straight came together as one. The Factory epitomized free thought and engaged discourse throughout the 1960s. We hope to replicate this model, welcoming all to come in, sit down, and share ideas without having to pay museum admission.”

Two new windows flood the new space with light, and the inclusion of new audio visual equipment showcases a range of engaging experiences for visitors. Nearly 20 LCD monitors display footage including visitor’s screen tests created with our Screen Test interactive project on our sixth floor; a live EarthCam feed from Warhol’s gravesite; upcoming public programs, events, announcements and more. Facing Sandusky Street in The Warhol’s front windows, new LCD banks preview upcoming exhibitions and collection highlights. The new space also features an iPad® bar – a location for visitors to casually browse the web, learn more about Warhol, and charge their own personal devices.

In addition to its new multimedia offerings, all-new furniture including sofas, chairs and tables provide a lounge-like environment. A focal point at the center of the new space is a floor to ceiling enlargement of William John Kennedy’s Homage to Warhol’s Marilyn, 1964, courtesy of KIWI Arts Group. The image features Warhol looking out through acetate used to create one of his most celebrated art works of Marilyn Monroe. The image is from a series that has been donated to The Warhol to create a museum edition (www.warhol.org/editions) currently on view in The Warhol Store. The space also features Bob Adelman’s image of Warhol sitting on a couch in the Silver Factory which is paired with an actual reproduction of the couch, providing museum visitors a photo op.

This new space is ideal for special events and rentals, from cocktails to formal dinners. With improved acoustics and lighting - and a casual atmosphere - this dynamic space also provides another cabaret-like venue option for our public programming series.

In addition, The Warhol Store has been expanded to almost three times the size of the previous store. The new store features three large windows facing Sandusky Street and a fresh contemporary look. The additional space allows The Warhol Store to expand its current product selection and line extensions to include everything from Areaware and Warhol Bugaboo strollers to Campbell’s and Marilyn Monroe products. The expanded space also features new product lines, such as Saletti, Wrapped gift rap, and Fiestaware.

The first floor renovation project was designed by Desmone & Associates Architects, and built by F.J Busse Company, Inc. The project is made possible through the generous grant support of The Eden Hall Foundation, Anonymous, The Heinz Endowments, and The Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh.