Andy Warhol Family Tree: The Story Behind Pop Art's Founder

Andy Warhol (born Andrew Warhola), born 6 August 1928 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA, was the founder of Pop Art — Campbell's Soup Cans (1962), Marilyn Diptych (1962), Eight Elvises (1963); founder of The Factory studio (1962) and the magazine Interview (1969). He died 22 February 1987 at age 58 after gallbladder surgery.

The Family's Roots: A Carpatho-Rusyn Immigrant Family

The Warhola family was Carpatho-Rusyn (Slovak-region ethnic minority) — immigrated to the US from the village of Miková (now in Slovakia) before WWI.

His Parents

Father: Andrej Warhola (1889–1942) — Carpatho-Rusyn; emigrated to the US in 1914; worked at the Eichleay Corporation construction site in Pittsburgh; died of tuberculous peritonitis when Andy was 13.

Mother: Julia Zavacká Warhola (1892–1972) — Carpatho-Rusyn; emigrated to join Andrej in 1921; spoke broken English; deeply Byzantine Catholic; lived with Andy in New York from 1952 until 1971.

His Brothers

Pavol "Paul" Warhola (1922–2014) — eldest brother; remained in Pittsburgh.

John Warhola (1925–2010) — middle brother; remained in Pittsburgh; helped found the Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh (1994).

His Personal Life

Andy Warhol never married. He was openly gay; had several close male partners, most famously Jed Johnson (interior designer; together 1968–80) and Jon Gould (a Paramount Pictures executive; together 1980–86; died of AIDS-related complications 1986).

The Warhola Family Tree at a Glance

Family Origins: Carpatho-Rusyn (Miková, Slovakia); immigrated to Pittsburgh.

Father: Andrej Warhola (1889–1942) — construction worker; died of TB when Andy was 13.

Mother: Julia Zavacká Warhola (1892–1972) — lived with Andy in NY 1952–71.

Brothers: Pavol "Paul" Warhola (1922–2014); John Warhola (1925–2010) — co-founded Andy Warhol Museum.

Partner (1968–80): Jed Johnson — interior designer.

Partner (1980–86): Jon Gould — Paramount executive; died of AIDS-related complications 1986.

Andy Warhol:

  • Born 6 August 1928, Pittsburgh
  • Carnegie Tech (Carnegie Mellon University): BFA Pictorial Design, 1949
  • Moved to New York: 1949 — successful commercial illustrator for Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, The New Yorker
  • First gallery solo show: 1962 — Campbell's Soup Cans
  • The Factory studio: 1962 — silver-foiled artistic-commercial-community space in NY
  • Marilyn Diptych (1962); Brillo Boxes (1964); Cow wallpaper (1966)
  • Survived June 1968 shooting by Valerie Solanas — nearly killed; had to wear a surgical corset for the rest of his life
  • Film: Empire (1964, 8-hour film of the Empire State Building); Chelsea Girls (1966); produced The Velvet Underground's first album (1967)
  • Interview magazine: founded 1969 — still published
  • Late 1980s collaborations: Jean-Michel Basquiat, Francesco Clemente
  • Died 22 February 1987, NYC, age 58 (post-gallbladder-surgery complications)
  • Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts: 1987
  • The Andy Warhol Museum, Pittsburgh: opened 1994

What the Warhola Family Story Teaches Us

A Slovak-region immigrant construction-worker father lost to TB at 13. A deeply Catholic immigrant mother who lived with Andy in NY for 19 years. Two elder brothers who stayed in Pittsburgh and co-founded the Warhol Museum. A lifelong unmarried life with two long-term male partners. A career that defined American Pop Art.

For every family — large or small, famous or otherwise — the Andy story carries the same lesson. Some families have one member who leaves and one who stays. The Warhola family record holds Andy in NY/global art and Paul and John in Pittsburgh — and the brothers' museum work after Andy's death is on the same tree.

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