Do It Yourself 1962

This work is by Andy Warhol, whose ‘Do It Yourself’ piece takes the form of a paint-by-numbers picture. Warhol was deeply interested in how American society, during the post-war boom, encouraged people to participate in consumer culture. This extended into the world of art itself. Here we see the readymade image, a common feature of advertising and popular culture, being turned into ‘high art’. The numbered guides mimic instruction manuals and suggest that anyone can be an artist. But by presenting it in a gallery, Warhol questions the idea of art as an individual and creative expression. Understanding this work requires close attention to the social and institutional context, for which we can turn to archives, period publications, and accounts of the time. These resources help us understand not just the art itself, but also the society that shaped its creation and reception.