ABOUT

Born in New York City in 1923, Roy Lichtenstein began his artistic journey at the Art Students League of New York and later studied at Ohio State University. Initially working in expressionist and abstract styles, he revolutionized the art world in the early 1960s with his distinctive pop art, drawing inspiration from comic strips and advertisements. His iconic works, like Whaam!, reflect his focus on emotionally charged themes, including love and war, establishing him as a pioneering figure of the pop art movement alongside Andy Warhol.

Whaam! (1963) is a diptych inspired by a DC Comics story titled Star Jockey from All American Men of War #89 (1962). The painting features an American fighter plane firing a missile into an enemy plane, and is notable for its onomatopoeic title, "WHAAM!" rendered in bold yellow. Lichtenstein transformed the original comic panel, adjusting details and scaling the image to an intense, larger-than-life composition. This work exemplifies his ability to merge mass media imagery with fine art, critiquing war and heroism with a detached, yet emotionally powerful approach.