Andy Warhol with burger by Axel Bottenberg

Andy Warhol with burger by Axel Bottenberg
Andy Warhol with burger by Axel Bottenberg

'Andy Warhol With Burger' demonstrates Axel Bottenberg's endless fascination with both Pop Art and McDonalds. Adorning yet another one of his favourite artists with a Ronald McDonald red nose, this painting is ironically based on a still image of Andy Warhol eating a Burger King hamburger, from the iconic 1982 video shot and directed by Jørgen Leth.

Imbued with a sense of humour and total irony, 'Andy Warhol With Burger' by Axel Bottenberg demonstrates Bottenberg's endless fascination with both Pop Art and McDonalds. The painting is based on a still image of Andy Warhol eating a Burger King hamburger, from the iconic 1982 video shot and directed by Jørgen Leth. A recurring theme throughout Bottenberg's oeuvre, Warhol has been adorned in Ronald McDonald face paint. Bottenberg is obsessed with McDonald's as a cultural phenomenon, and embeds this imagery into his work as a commentary on the rise of global capitalism and mass consumerism in the 1980s, the time in which he studied alongside the YBAs (Young British Artists) at the Royal College of Art. Painted in a photo-realist style, at first glance we would assume it is a photographic still from the original video. Effort has even been made to imitate the original film, yet the addition of the clown imagery fosters a kitschy sense of humour, and breaks through the gravitas of the art historical significance. “I decided to study art really early on, it was never an option not to” Graduating from art school in 1989 with a degree in printmaking, Bottenberg’s practice has blossomed into an unusual yet exciting body of work, tackling a variety of subject matter. He is renowned for his kitsch pop culture references and art historical pastiche, which are communicated through painting, sculpture, drawing and more. Bottenberg often contrasts high art references with low art iconography to imbue humour, whilst also provoking a response and shock factor from his audience. The pop culture references maintain a familiarity within his work, taking inspiration from 1960s Pop Art, and its resurgence in the 1990s by artists such as Jeff Koons. This familiarity ensures his work is accessible to a wide audience, as opposed to only art world professionals. Any piece within Bottenberg's collection is a statement piece that is unapologetic and full of vigour; a perfect addition for any contemporary art collection, space, or home.

Axel Bottenberg is a mixed media artist who works to create bright, compelling compositions which blur the boundaries of painting and sculpture. Born in 1961 in Darmstadt, Germany, Bottenberg studied Fine Art and Printmaking at the Canterbury College of Fine Art, and later Printmaking at the Royal College of Art (RCA) in London. Bottenberg is now based at Bankley Studios in Levenshulme, Manchester, and is renowned for challenging the sphere of contemporary art through his practice. Bottenberg's oeuvre is imbued with entertaining pop culture and art historical references, and his works often reject art tradition through juxtaposing high and low art iconographies. Bottenberg is heavily inspired by 1960s Pop Art and its resurgence in the 1990s, which he portrays through his own eclectic lens and bold colour palette. Bottenberg's researched approach gives scope for sardonic appraisals within a varied, eccentric body of work. Any piece from Axel Bottenberg's oeuvre would be a valuable and compelling asset to any contemporary art collection, business space or home.