Leo Martínez
Bob Dylan and Andy Warhol were two of the most influential artists of the 20th century. In 1965, Dylan visited Warhol's studio, known as The Factory, and sat for two of Warhol's screen tests. As a gift or payment for appearing in the screen test, Warhol gave Dylan a silkscreen painting of Elvis Presley, known as the Double Elvis. Dylan later traded this painting, which was already valuable, for a couch. This trade is often cited as a source of tension between the two artists, who are rumoured to have disliked each other.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year of meeting | 1965 |
| Location of meeting | Andy Warhol's studio, The Factory |
| Art exchanged | Andy Warhol's Double Elvis painting |
| Value of art exchanged | Millions of dollars |
| Item traded for art | A couch or sofa |
| Owner of traded item | Manager Albert Grossman |
| Nature of relationship | Competitive |
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What You'll Learn
Andy Warhol and Bob Dylan's first encounter
Bob Dylan and Andy Warhol's first encounter was in 1965, at Warhol's Silver Factory. Filmmaker Barbara Rubin, a mutual acquaintance, brought Dylan to the Factory. Dylan and Warhol were reportedly in awe of each other, with Warhol "star-struck" by Dylan's celebrity status.
During this first encounter, Dylan took part in one of Warhol's infamous "screen tests". With two rolls of film, Warhol captured Dylan in a close-up and a wide shot. According to Warhol biographers Tony Scherman and David Dalton, Warhol had a "practical agenda" to get Dylan to appear in one of his movies. Although this movie never came to fruition, Dylan's brief appearance in front of Warhol's camera marked the beginning of their acquaintance.
Following this first screen test, Dylan would drift in and out of Warhol's orbit, becoming involved with members of Warhol's Factory crowd. Dylan's time with the Factory crowd would influence his songwriting as he gained a "taste for a different life". One of the most notable members of this crowd was Edie Sedgwick, with whom Dylan had a rumoured romance.
During this first encounter, Warhol gave Dylan a silver "Double Elvis" painting as a gift, which Dylan accepted nonchalantly, unaware of its immense value. This painting would later become the subject of numerous stories and rumours, including that Dylan had used it as a dartboard or traded it for a sofa. Despite their initial connection, Dylan never became the Hollywood star that Warhol had envisaged, and their relationship remained centred around this first meeting and the exchange of art and music that followed.
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Warhol's gift to Dylan: a Double Elvis painting
In the mid-1960s, Bob Dylan was acquainted with Andy Warhol and his Silver Factory. In 1965, Dylan visited Warhol's studio and became the subject of one of his screen tests. As a token of gratitude, Warhol gifted Dylan a Double Elvis silver painting.
There are conflicting accounts of how the exchange took place. Some claim that Dylan and Warhol were engaging in a mutual admiration exchange, with Dylan ultimately accepting the painting. Other accounts suggest that Dylan took the painting as payment for the screen test, with his crew hustling the painting away before anyone in Warhol's camp could object.
Regardless, Dylan did not fully appreciate the painting and ended up trading it to his manager, Albert Grossman, for a second-hand couch. Dylan later expressed regret for this decision, wishing he could tell Warhol and get another painting.
The Double Elvis painting ended up on the roof of Dylan's station wagon, where it was photographed. This image has become an iconic representation of the story of Dylan and Warhol's Silver Elvis.
While Dylan's time at The Factory was brief, it influenced his songwriting and exposed him to a different world. The exchange of the Double Elvis painting is a memorable episode in the history of these two iconic figures.
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Dylan trades the Warhol for a couch
Bob Dylan once traded an Andy Warhol painting for a couch. The painting, a silkscreen of two overlapping images of Elvis Presley, was part of Warhol's Silver Elvis series. It was also known as "Double Elvis".
In 1965, Dylan was brought to Andy Warhol's Silver Factory by Barbara Rubin, a filmmaker and mutual acquaintance of the two artists. Dylan took part in one of Warhol's infamous "'screen tests'"—two-minute silent movie portraits starring Factory regulars and outside celebrities. As a thank-you gift for appearing in the screen test, Warhol gave Dylan the Silver Elvis painting. Dylan accepted the soon-to-be-iconic painting, unaware of its worth.
Dylan later traded the Warhol painting to his manager, Albert Grossman, in exchange for a couch. This decision was reportedly one that Dylan came to regret. In 1985, Dylan remarked to Spin:
> "I always wanted to tell Andy what a stupid thing [I’d] done, and if he had another painting he would give me, I’d never do it again."
Grossman's widow, Sally, later sold the painting at auction for a reported $750,000.
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Rumours of a competitive relationship
Bob Dylan and Andy Warhol's rumoured competitive relationship has been a topic of interest for many years. The two artists' interaction in 1965, when Dylan visited Warhol's studio, has been described as "two cool guys trying to out-cool each other".
Warhol is said to have been "star-struck" by Dylan and wanted to show his gratitude for his participation in the screen test by gifting him a silver Elvis painting. Dylan, on the other hand, is reported to have nonchalantly accepted the painting, which would later become iconic.
Rumours circulated that Dylan had mistreated the painting, using it as a dartboard or hanging it upside down, which may have hurt Warhol's feelings. However, these rumours were later proven false, as Dylan had traded the painting to his manager, Albert Grossman, in exchange for a sofa. This decision was one that Dylan came to greatly regret, as he later remarked that he wanted to tell Warhol how stupid he had been and that he would never do it again if Warhol gave him another painting.
The competitive nature of their relationship is also reflected in their respective art forms. Dylan ventured into Warhol's world of art, while Warhol envisioned Hollywood stardom for Dylan. Their relationship was not just about artistic merit but also about who could be "The Coolest". This dynamic is further emphasised by the fact that Dylan's time at The Factory saw him neglect his pursuit of fame, instead focusing on his songwriting talent.
Warhol's subsequent creation of a mockumentary film, "The Bob Dylan Story" (1966), and the inclusion of a foldout photograph of Dylan with an oversized nose in his book "Andy Warhol's Index" (1967), further suggest a competitive and perhaps even antagonistic relationship between the two artists.
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Dylan's time in Warhol's Factory
Bob Dylan's time at Andy Warhol's Factory was brief but significant. In 1965, Dylan was brought to Warhol's Silver Factory by filmmaker Barbara Rubin, a mutual acquaintance. This visit would be the first meeting between Dylan and Warhol.
During his time at the Factory, Dylan took part in one of Warhol's infamous "'screen tests'". According to Warhol biographers Tony Scherman and David Dalton, Warhol was "star-struck" by Dylan and wanted to show his gratitude for his appearance in the screen test. As a result, he gave Dylan a silver "Double Elvis" painting as a gift. Dylan accepted the painting nonchalantly, unaware of its worth.
Dylan's visit to the Factory was also notable due to his connection with Edie Sedgwick, a socialite and actress who had a rocky relationship with Warhol and the Factory gang. Dylan was friends with Sedgwick and it is rumoured that the two had a secret affair before Dylan married Sarah Lownds. It is speculated that Dylan's negative attitude towards Warhol during his visit was influenced by his loyalty to Sedgwick.
Dylan's time at the Factory was an experience that influenced his songwriting and exposed him to a different lifestyle. However, he was never a fully-fledged member of the Factory scene, prioritising his songwriting talent over fame. Dylan's involvement with the Factory crowd culminated in his participation in the screen test and his acquisition of the "Double Elvis" painting.
After leaving the Factory, Dylan traded the "Double Elvis" painting to his manager, Albert Grossman, in exchange for a sofa. This decision would later be regarded as a mistake by Dylan, who expressed regret and wished to make amends with Warhol.
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Frequently asked questions
No, not particularly. It is said that the two men did not like each other very much, with one source describing their relationship as a competitive aggressiveness.
Dylan traded the painting, a Double Elvis silkscreen, to his manager, Albert Grossman, in exchange for a couch.
Yes, in 1985, Dylan remarked: "I always wanted to tell Andy what a stupid thing [I’d] done, and if he had another painting he would give me, I’d never do it again."
