St. Petersburg, Fla.- Works of Andy Warhol, one of the most famous and recognizable artists of the 20th century next to Salvador Dali, have come to the Salvador Dali Museum in St. Petersburg. Art lovers and the eternally curious can rejoice, with the quirky works of Dali and the iconic works of Warhol mingling under one roof.

  Warhol is best known for his work depicting commercial works that are culturally recognizable, such as large paintings of Campbell’s Soup cans, and self-portraits using bright primary colors. The exhibit, titled “Warhol: Art. Fame. Mortality,” showcased over 100 paintings, screen prints, photographs and film screen tests.

  The exhibit showed the lesser known side of Warhol, showing the way that he related painting to human mortality, and sharing commercial art as well as paintings of the famous and the way that fame can make people look.

  One aspect of the exhibit that many guests found exciting was the “15 minutes of fame” screen test. Visitors of the exhibit were able to participate in creating a film screen test just as Warhol made, and have it e-mailed to them, creating a more interactive feeling to the exhibit.

  Another aspect of the exhibit that many people enjoyed was seeing Warhol’s paintings of classic soup cans, ketchup crates and the bold four paneled paintings of famous people. Many guests commented that

  Warhol was the original inventor of the “selfie,” as his self-portraits lined one wall of the exhibit. The use of color, such as deep reds and dark blues, conveyed looming mortality and the commercialism of life.

  Part of what was so interesting about the exhibit, is the juxtaposition of Dali and Warhol, while both of their works are still strikingly similar. “If Dali used popular media to present his vision of the dream world, Warhol used popular media as the subject of his art,” said Dr. Hank Hine, Executive Director of The Dali, in a media statement. “Warhol was one of the American artists most marked by the legacy and model of Salvador Dali.”

  It is this reason that the exhibits easily flow side-by-side. The Dali museum already features a variety of paintings from Dali himself, ranging from small paintings with personal themes such as fear and loss, to large paintings that extend from floor to ceiling bursting at the seams with religious questioning and praise.

  Dali’s paintings are typically very radical, showing the many stages of self-questioning that Dali, like most people, experienced. His art might seem simple to the art enthusiast, but to the everyday museum guest, the paintings tell a cryptic story. Part of the beauty of both Dali and Warhol’s work, is that the message received by each viewer varies depending on your mindset, mood and experiences.

  Another fun feature of the Dali museum is outside, where guests can enjoy a hedge maze, melting park bench and a “wristband tree” where visitors tie their wristbands at the end of their visit. The tree looks like something from a fairy tale, and stands proudly next to a giant moustache reminiscent of Dali’s famed moustache.

  Being able to see the works of these iconic artists is truly a treat that everyone in Tampa and St. Petersburg should enjoy. “Warhol: Art. Fame. Mortality” will be displayed at the Salvador Dali Museum until April 27, 2014, and is included with the price of admission to the museum.