Andy Warhol’s Self-Portrait (Fright Wig) (1986) and Marjorie Strider’s Girl with a Radish (1963) arrive for a two-year stay at the Arlington Museum of Art as part of Art Bridges Foundation’s initiative to provide access to American art
ARLINGTON, TX (August 16, 2024) – Today, the Arlington Museum of Art announced their partnership with Art Bridges Foundation and the loan of two works from the Art Bridges Collection. Both pieces, Andy Warhol’s Self-Portrait (Fright Wig) (1986) and Marjorie Strider’s Girl with a Radish (1963), showcase the iconic American pop art movement at its height. These pieces will be on long-term loan from the foundation until 2026 and will be free to view for the public.
The AMA’s mission of providing access to art for all has been a long-standing pillar of the organization. AMA President & CEO Chris Hightower says, “We are so excited to become a partner of Art Bridges. Their organization’s mission to bring world-renowned artists to the people inspires and energizes the AMA to continue to discover new ways to bring important art and artists to north Texas and Arlington.”
Art Bridges Foundation, founded by philanthropist and arts patron Alice Walton, was created to expand access to American art nationwide by activating works of art in innovative and exciting ways. “We are thrilled to partner with the Arlington Museum of Art to bring works by Andy Warhol and Marjorie Strider to North Texas,” says Art Bridges CEO Anne Kraybill. “This collaboration exemplifies our commitment to making American art accessible to all, sparking dialogue and inspiring creativity. We look forward to seeing how these powerful pieces resonate with the Arlington community and beyond.”
Andy Warhol’s Self-Portrait (Fright Wig) (1986) and Marjorie Strider’s Girl with a Radish (1963) will be publicly on view at the AMA in the Grand Hallway until 2026.
Andy Warhol’s Self-Portrait (Fright Wig) (1986) was created one year prior to the artist’s death in 1987. Self-Portrait (Fright Wig) showcases Warhol’s iconic screen printing technique with the artist depicted in contrasting black and vibrant green. “Fright Wig” is a term most commonly used to describe a clown or similar performer’s hair as it stands straight up or sticking out. This hairstyle is present in Warhol’s self portrait as it “portrays his persona as a subject, an artist, and a celebrity.” (Art Bridges) Warhol’s art career began in the 1950s as he worked as a commercial illustrator. The artist, and his work, grew to notoriety as he embraced the pop art style and as his work was displayed in art galleries in the 1960s. A pioneer of the 1960s New York art scene, and the Pop Art movement, Self-Portrait (Fright Wig) encompasses Warhol’s most famous and well-loved techniques paired with the artist’s personal narrative and self-expression.
Marjorie Strider’s Girl with a Radish (1963) is inspired by the objectification of the traditional pin-up girl seen in Pop Art. Through the AMA’s partnership with Art Bridges, the AMA is able to showcase Warhol and Strider alongside one another. However, this isn’t the first time these two artists have been on display in the same space. As a notable pop artist herself, Strider was one of two women who took part in the Pace Gallery’s group show entitled The First International Girlie show, where Warhol was also featured. Strider’s work, however, comments on how her male counterparts were depicting women in their Pop Art imagery of these pin-up girls, as well as how women are portrayed in magazines and mass-media advertisements. In Girl with a Radish, Strider’s Pop Art style can be seen through her use of intricate, bold, and graphic line art seen on her face paired with voluminous lashes and vibrant blue eyes, capturing the viewers’ attention and drawing them into her space. This confronting and deliberate eye contact challenges the idea of how women are seen in the traditional male gaze and in 1960s Pop Art. Strider’s direct and intentional commentary serves as a message and influence to these eye-catching, and at times, erotic art pieces that have cemented her place as not only a popular woman artist, but one of the greatest pop artists of all time.
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About the Arlington Museum of Art
A thriving visual arts museum in the heart of North Texas, the Arlington Museum of Art (AMA)
is constantly in motion, with ever-changing exhibits and experiences that unite art, technology,
innovation, and education. In keeping with our growing reputation for groundbreaking
exhibitions and programming, coupled with our hometown pride, in 2024 the new AMA opened
in the heart of Arlington’s Entertainment District. We serve our community and visitors as a
new kind of arts destination, presenting the world’s great masters alongside the very best of
contemporary art and evolving genres of experiential art. Our unwavering commitment to
fostering creativity, conversation, and connection brings together diverse art, artists, and
audiences of all ages, transforming them through the power of art. arlingtonmuseum.org
About Art Bridges Foundation
Art Bridges Foundation is the vision of philanthropist and arts patron Alice Walton. Since 2017, Art Bridges has created and supported projects that bring outstanding works of American art out of storage and into communities across the United States and its territories. Art Bridges partners with a growing network of more than 240 museums of all sizes on nearly 900 projects—impacting 5.3 million people nationwide—to provide financial and strategic support for traveling exhibitions, collection loans, and programs designed to educate, inspire, and deepen engagement with local communities. The Art Bridges Collection represents an expanding vision of American art from the 19th century to present day and encompasses multiple media and voices. To learn more, visit artbridgesfoundation.org.
Media Contacts
For the Arlington Museum of Art:
Chris Hightower, President & CEO
Arlington Museum of Art
president@arlingtonmuseum.org
817-275-4600
For Art Bridges Foundation:
Randi Cruz
Director of Marketing and Communications
Art Bridges Foundation
