On June 3, 1968, Valerie Solanas, a troubled writer who had appeared in one of Warhol’s films, shot Andy Warhol in the abdomen at his new studio at 33 Union Square West. She also shot art critic Mario Amaya, and Fred Hughes was in her sights when the elevator doors suddenly opened, and she ran out. After Warhol was reportedly declared dead upon arrival at the hospital, his life was saved after five hours of surgery. Apparently, a single bullet had damaged his lungs, esophagus, spleen, liver, and stomach. After nearly two months, Warhol was released from the hospital, but required further surgeries over the subsequent years.
Image Gallery
Jack Smith, photograph (Andy Warhol being lifted into an ambulance, June 3, 1968)
The Andy Warhol Museum, Pittsburgh; Founding Collection, Contribution The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, Inc.
TC21.74.3
TC21 Object: Jack Smith, photograph (Andy Warhol being lifted into an ambulance, June 3, 1968)
This photo was found inside TC21 in an envelope with similar photographs and related clippings sent to Warhol by art critic, David Bourdon. The black-and-white photograph shows Andy Warhol, unconscious, being lifted into an ambulance by a police officer after he was shot by Valerie Solanas on June 3, 1968.
Newspaper clipping (photograph of Andy Warhol being lifted into an ambulance, The New York Daily News, June 4, 1968. Source photo by Jack Smith)
The Andy Warhol Museum, Pittsburgh; Founding Collection, Contribution The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, Inc.
TC21.74.4
TC21 Object: Newspaper clipping (photograph of Andy Warhol being lifted into an ambulance, The New York Daily News, June 4, 1968. Source photo by Jack Smith)
Jack Smith’s original black and white photo of Warhol being lifted into the ambulance after the shooting was used as the source image by The New York Daily News on June 4th, 1968 to alert readers of the tragedy.
Newspaper clipping (photograph of Andy Warhol being lifted into an ambulance, The New York Daily News, June 4, 1968. Source photo by Jack Smith)
The Andy Warhol Museum, Pittsburgh; Founding Collection, Contribution The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, Inc.
TC21.74.5
TC21 Object: Newspaper clipping (photograph of Andy Warhol being lifted into an ambulance, The New York Daily News, June 4, 1968. Source photo by Jack Smith)
Another clipping of The New York Daily News article was found in TC21 with Warhol’s handwritten notes in the left margin; “Daily News 6/4” in green and “Ptng 8×10” in red. It is possible that Warhol intended to use this clipping as source material for a future artwork, much like he used tragic newspaper clippings as source images for his Death and Disaster series in 1963.
Newspaper clipping (photograph of Valerie Solanas with headline "Actress Shoots Andy Warhol / Cries 'He Controlled My Life'", The New York Daily News, June 4, 1968.) From "Time Capsule 7".
The Andy Warhol Museum, Pittsburgh; Founding Collection, Contribution The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, Inc.
TC7.100
Related Object: Newspaper clipping (photograph of Valerie Solanas with headline "Actress Shoots Andy Warhol / Cries 'He Controlled My Life'", The New York Daily News, June 4, 1968.) From "Time Capsule 7”.
A complete copy of The New York Daily News outlining the shooting and arrest of the shooter, Valerie Solanas was found in Warhol’s Time Capsule 7. The headline reads “Actress Shoots Andy Warhol / Cries ‘He Controlled My Life'”, with a photo of a detective and police woman escorting Valerie Solanas to the station to be booked. The caption reads “‘Flower Child’ Surrenders”, referring to Solanas surrendering to a cop in Times Square and allegedly admitting to the shooting, saying “I am a flower child”.
"Royaltone" album and wallet sized photo set; Andy Warhol at Columbus Hospital, New York, June 1968, recovering from bullet wounds inflicted by Valerie Solanas.
The Andy Warhol Museum, Pittsburgh; Founding Collection, Contribution The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, Inc.
1998.3.14800
Related Object: "Royaltone" album and wallet sized photo set; Andy Warhol at Columbus Hospital, New York, June 1968, recovering from bullet wounds inflicted by Valerie Solanas.
While in the hospital, Warhol took these color photographs of himself standing in front of a mirror, squinting into the viewfinder of a camera. He has his shirt off, and appears to be photographing the scars on his chest and stomach.
