Oldest brother, Paul, was a scrap dealer. He was married to his wife, Anne, for 71 years. The couple had seven children, twelve grandchildren and seven great grandchildren. Paul took up painting late in life. His son, James Warhola, is a well-known illustrator and has written several books about family trips to Manhattan to visit Uncle Andy and his grandmother, Julia Warhola, whom they called Bubba.
The glue that held the family together was Julia, who raised her three sons to be responsible, hard working adults. After Paul and John married and left the family home in Pittsburgh, Julia moved to Manhattan, in 1951, to live with Andy.
She was talented, artistic and encouraged Andy to paint and draw as a child. When they lived together in New York, Andy often asked her to use her calligraphy skills to accompany his illustrations.
According to Andy’s nephew, James, Andy was given Siamese cat, named Hester, by actress Gloria Swanson. Julia thought that Hester could use a friend, so they got Sam. Hester and Sam produced several litters of cats, that ran through the townhouse, off Lexington Avenue, that Andy shared with his mother.
Julia wrote and illustrated a book called Holy Cats, and did the calligraphy for a limited edition of Andy’s book: 25 Cats Name Sam and One Blue Pussy (Julia dropped the ‘d’ in the title). Her work on an album cover, in 1958, for The Story of Moondog, featuring avant-garde musician Louis Thomas Hardin, garnered her an award from the American Institute of Graphic Arts.
Despite Andy’s status and wealth, Julia lived a quiet, simple life in New York, shopping, cooking and attending church. In 1971 she returned to Pittsburgh. She died in 1972, at age 81.
Happy Mother's Day to those, like Julia Warhola, who encourage artistry and creativity in their children.
References:
Laura Vecsey. Where Did Andy Warhol Live in NYC? And Where Was The Factory Located? StreetEasy Reads. May 5, 2020.
Kristin Britanik. Sorting Fact From Fiction In Andy Warhol’s Family History. Deep Genealogical Services. February 22, 2017.
Matt Wrbican. In Memoriam: Paul Warhola: First to Arrive, Last to Leave | June 26, 1922 – January 30, 2014. The Andy Warhol Museum. January 31, 2014.
William Grimes. John Warhola, Brother of Andy Warhol, Dies at 85. The New York Times. December 28, 2010.
