The 98-Year-Old Pop Art Queen Behind an Iconic Lichtenstein Billboard
Ahead of her memoir's release, we talk to Joan Kron about Andy Warhol, beating Sidney Janis to the punch, and why she calls herself a “renegade housewife” of Pop Art.
In 1967, artist Joan Kron commissioned Roy Lichtenstein to create a billboard version of his "Super Sunset" artwork for the Arts Festival of Philadelphia. The idea faced opposition, as the head of city planning opposed the concept, believing it would only increase billboard traffic. Despite this, Kron and her collaborator Audrey Sabol, with the support of billboard owner Walter Stait, proceeded with the project.
They secured free billboards around the city, painting over existing ones with Lichtenstein's artwork. The project gained significant publicity and was featured in The Daily News. Kron went on to become a prominent journalist and documentary filmmaker, eventually authoring a memoir about her experiences with Pop Art and the opposition she faced along the way.
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