The New Factory at 860 Broadway

This thread traces Warhol’s office life as his art practice, publishing operation, and circle of collaborators converge at 860 Broadway.

increasingBearing stren­gth in each eventdecreasing

A Shared Third Floor

A Shared Third Floor Factory becomes office Warhol moved his operation to 860 Broadway, half a block from Union Square, and increasingly called the workplace simply “the office.” The building combined administrative rooms, Interview magazine’s operation, and Warhol’s working area. New responsibilities Vincent Fremont managed office operations while Fred Hughes handled many business decisions and the art career.

Magazine and Studio Together

Magazine and Studio Together One crowded workplace Interview and Warhol’s personal office occupied adjoining areas, yet Warhol treated magazine staff as separate from his own “family.” He described the staff as “them” and his close employees as “us,” a division that shaped everyday access and belonging. Art in the back Warhol worked on paintings and images near the freight elevator while office business continued around him.

Visitors and Lunches

Visitors and Lunches A public-facing office Artists, celebrities, potential advertisers, and acquaintances arrived for interviews, portraits, lunches, and informal visits. The conference room became a social and professional stage, where business could share space with gossip and interruptions. A crowded ecosystem The office depended on employees with different roles, but poor coordination and competing priorities repeatedly disrupted work.

Expansion and Displacement

Expansion and Displacement Room becomes scarce Interview’s growth and new staff crowded out parts of Warhol’s working space. Warhol worried about finding somewhere to paint as the office absorbed rooms and the building’s facilities became less reliable. The building’s changing use Construction of a neighboring discotheque brought noise, inconvenience, and anxiety about the premises’ future.

A New Building

A New Building A major investment Warhol and his associates acquired a building on East 33rd Street, envisioning more space for both art and the magazine. The move promised room to grow but also created new financial obligations, construction problems, and questions about how to use the space. Separation from the old base Leaving 860 Broadway meant giving up a familiar workplace whose crowded, improvised character had shaped the daily routine.

Summer 1974

Mid-1970s

Late 1970s to early 1980s

Early 1980s

October 1981 onward