Andy Warhol

“Everything has its beauty, but not everyone sees it.” -Andy Warhol

While walking through the High Museum of Art with my daughter, we came upon the above picture in the modern gallery.

It is a completely black painting on a stark white wall. 

And I said, as I have said to my daughter about like paintings before – “I just don’t get it. I don’t understand why this is important or significant.” 

As an art major, she typically gives me a cross look and moves on (artists hate it when you say things like this). But I pressed on – I genuinely wanted to hear her perspective. 

After much prompting, her response back - which made this odd painting and the others that surround it make complete sense - was “It is probably out of context. The original artist most likely presented it in a completely different way. That’s the problem with most museums.” 

And then she reminded me of a fun afternoon we spent playing with bright silver balloons in an immersive Andy Warhol experience at a museum in Florence, Alabama. 

Advice for you? 

When you talk to your customer about what they want or need, make sure you have the entire context or you may build features, functions, services and messages they “don’t get”. 

When you coach your employee, understand that other factors in your company, and their life, are impacting the conversation. It’s never black and white. 

When you receive advice about the direction of your company, always follow your gut. You live and breathe it everyday and no one has the same context as you. 

P.S. If you are in Atlanta, the Andy Warhol exhibit is open until September 3. Remember to take time away from your company to gain a new perspective. It’s amazing how a different perspective gives you a new view on a situation.