From New York and Campbell’s Soup Cans to Marilyn Monroe, Andy Warhol’s Ancestral Homeland Reopens to His Art

Andy Warhol’s art has returned to the land of his ancestors, where the renovated Warhol Museum in Medzilaborce is presenting more than 400 original works after a three-year investment.

The reconstruction went far beyond repainting and modernizing the building. Its technical and security systems were completely renewed, visitor areas were expanded, and new exhibition technology and interactive multimedia elements were added to the permanent displays. The roof has also become a multifunctional space open to visitors.

The museum now wants to serve as more than an exhibition venue. It plans to host educational programs, workshops and cultural events. It also tells the story of Warhol’s parents and ancestors. His mother, Júlia Warhol, came from Miková, a nearby village that still preserves memories linked to the Warhol family.

That connection gives the museum a distinctive role, joining the modern art world of American cities with a Carpathian region that retains its Rusyn traditions. Slovak President Peter Pellegrini and parliament speaker Richard Raši attended the formal reopening. Pellegrini said the renewed building could make Medzilaborce more attractive to foreign visitors and turn it into a destination for people from around the world.

Donald Warhola, Warhol’s nephew, also attended. The family representative said the museum’s use of modern technology was particularly fitting because Warhol himself showed strong interest in technological innovation. The reopening will also affect transport: Slovakia’s state railway will temporarily extend the international Prague-Humenné service to Medzilaborce, with the trains operating under the name “Slovakia Pop-Art.”