Andy Warhol Could Sell Shoes

In 1980, Warhol created his Diamond Dust Shoes series. According to Warhol’s Interview magazine editor, Bob Colacello, the idea began when Victor Hugo, the partner of fashion designer, Halston, sent over a box of shoes that Halston wanted Warhol to use in an ad campaign.

The diamond-dust idea was stolen from Rupert Smith, who had been using the industrial-grade ground-up stones on some prints of his own. He was foolish enough to tell Andy where to buy it and foolish enough to be surprised when it turned up as Andy’s art.”
—Bob Colacello

“Victor Hugo sent down a big box of various styles to be photographed for the ad campaign of Halston’s shoe licensee, Garolini.” Colacello said, “Ronnie turned the box upside down and dumped the shoes out. Andy liked the way they looked spilled all over the floor. So he took a few Polaroids and had Ronnie take a lot more. The diamond-dust idea was stolen from Rupert Smith, who had been using the industrial-grade ground-up stones on some prints of his own. He was foolish enough to tell Andy where to buy it and foolish enough to be surprised when it turned up as Andy’s art. ‘Oh, it fell on my painting and stuck.’ Andy said.”

The Diamond Dust Shoes series was another set of work that resonated with Warhol’s public. It combines art, fashion, glitz and glamor in the usual Warhol style.

Shoes-Deluxe Edition is for sale at our gallery at this time. We welcome you to visit Vertu Fine Art to view Shoes and the other works of Andy Warhol available in our gallery or contact us for more information.