The incredible story of the mother of the pop art king

Well-known jeweller and designer Petra Toth followed in the footsteps of pop art king Andy Warhol's mother from the village of Miková, eastern Slovakia, all the way to Pittsburgh. Andy's parents, Júlia and Andrej, hailed from the village.

Andrej was the first to emigrate in 1912, followed by Júlia Varcholová, née Zavacká in 1921. Based on Petra Toth's notes, the Korzár daily summed up the most important moments in the life of the Warhol family.

The Andy Warhol Museum of Modern Art in Medzilaborce (16 photos)

Sweets

Andrej Varchola was born in 1886 in Miková. In 1892, Uľa Zavacká - or Júlia in Slovak - was born. She had 14 siblings. At that time, Miková had fewer than 500 residents and was divided into an upper and lower part. People devoted themselves to agriculture.

Men made extra money by working seasonally in various parts of the country. However, over time it became more and more difficult to find a job.

Both families were among the wealthier ones, living in upper Miková. Júlia admitted that she agreed to the marriage only after Andrej brought her sweets during the courtship.

Miner. (source: Petra Toth Atelier)

Wedding

The couple married in 1909.

"The wedding was beautiful. I was dressed in white. I had a veil. I was beautiful. My husband had a white coat. So funny. He had a cap with lots of ribbons, three rows of ribbons. A day and a half with my mom and a day and a half with his mum. A big beautiful celebration. Eating, drinking, whiskey barrels. Amazing food, rice with butter sugar, bread, good bread, homemade cookies. Beautiful!" recollected the 74-year-old Júlia Warhol for Esquire magazine in 1966.

Death, war

Their first daughter was born three years after their wedding. However, after six weeks the child died of a cold. At the time, Andrej was in America. Júlia stayed at her in-laws' and like any bride, did the most difficult housework.

The onset of World War I saw new and severe punishments not only for desertion, but for aiding in the attempt. Andrej and his brother managed to escape to Poland and across the ocean.