The kit Andy Warhol Barbie Doll for $ 100, in addition to the dolls, are brushes, palette, tubes, camera "Polaroid" and a replica of a real portrait of Warhol's "Barbie, portrait of Billyboy*"

December 2015, Mattel (manufacturer of Barbie) in conjunction with the Andy Warhol Foundation have released a Barbie doll in the image of the father of pop-арта Andy Warhol. Designer Linda Kyaw (Linda Kyaw) and dressed up leggy cutie — in a leather jacket, sunglasses and a wig of white hair. In the package for $ 100 includes a set of artist — brushes, palette, tubes, camera "Polaroid", and the finished portrait of Barbie.

a portrait, by the way, is not simple and deserves a separate story. This puppet is a reproduction of a real-life portrait by Andy Warhol that is called "Barbie, portrait of Billyboy*" (the name of BillyBoy* written with an asterisk). In October 2014 it was sold at Christie's for a million and a half dollars. Mattel's press-релизе never mentions — is probably not to explain to the children the strangeness of adults. The fact that Warhol wasn't going to write it is a portrait doll. For many years he wanted to do a portrait of my Muse — fashion designer and jewelry designer with the pseudonym Billyboy*, whom he met in the mid 1970-х. But he dodged, refusing from the portrait for some-то reasons. But this Billyboy* was and remains a special hobby: she collects Barbie dolls in his collection in what-то time was more than 11 000 Barbies and Kens more than 3000. In short, once Billyboy* said to Warhol: "Well, if you really want to do my portrait, then write a portrait of Barbie, because Barbie — is me". And so I came the famous canvas with the doll and its subsequent versions. Interestingly, Billyboy* was adopted and brought up by Russian parents, he moved to America in 4-летнем age. Billyboy* became the first designer whose name appeared on the boxes of these dolls. Many years ago Mattel asked him to design two dolls — Le Nouveau Theatre De La Mode and Feelin’ Groovy Barbie. But that's another story.

Warhol was not the first time designers of consumer goods and producers of packaging. With themes of Warhol produced watches, vodka Absolut, Converse sneakers and many other goods. Some of them are collected in a separate topic on forum.artinvestment.ru.

Vladimir Bogdanov, AI

Sources: bbc.com; thebarbiecollection.com; artinvestment.ru