This website is dedicated to Steve Alan Kaufman. Steve worked as Andy Warhol's assistant at the Factory in New York City and was nicknamed "SAK" by Andy Warhol.

My name is Robert Michelson and I knew Steve for most of his life.  Steve grew up in the Bronx. His Dad passed away when he was four and at the age eight his mother enrolled him in the Big Brother Program at the Jewish Board of Guardians in New York City. Our friendship grew throughout the years as my Big Brother role segued to that of a surrogate dad. The initial years of our friendship included Saturday afternoon visits to movies, museums, ball games and hanging out together. In the mid 80’s I opened a video production office in San Francisco and enjoyed the opportunity to spend time with Steve when he moved to California. We were very close.

From a young age, Steve had a passion for painting. He graduated with a BFA degree from The School of Visual Arts in New York City in 1982. Shortly thereafter he met Andy Warhol and worked as his assistant at The Factory in NYC.  Steve was kind and generous. He campaigned for Aids Awareness and in an effort to address inner city problems, he painted the first of over fifty Racial Harmony Murals in Harlem.  Steve was also an entrepreneur and accompanied by his crew, he decided in late 1993 to move to Los Angeles.  He launched his West Coast career by selling his Pop Art on Sunday’s in vacant Beverly Hills parking lots that he rented. With enough money to purchase a large Studio off of Melrose Avenue he trained and employed at risk youth via his, “ Give Kids A Break “ program. He continued to donate to AIDS Foundations and was commissioned to paint large murals at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. Steve’s work is featured in over twenty museums, two Presidential Libraries and The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio.

Steve died on the 10th of February 2010, from heart complications, shortly after his 49th birthday.  

This website has been designed to help to personify his memory. He owned three classic Mustangs, hence a Classic Car Section. The Cigar Art section features Art for your Man Cave as Steve appreciated a good cigar. The Celebrity Section is based upon Steve’s love for his adopted City of Los Angeles. Having little to no money in his youth he enjoyed having a wad of cash in his pocket. He never forgot his roots and the Mixed Bag section is dedicated to Steve’s appreciation of a good bargain.  

The Art featured on this website is oil on canvas applied by a silkscreen process . The Unique Paintings are silkscreen’s with multiple layers of hand embellished oil paint..

I have inherited a large collection of Steve Kaufman Pop Art and this website will be regularly updated with new Art. Certificates of Authenticity will be provided for all purchases.

If you are interested in knowing more about Steve or purchasing his Art, please feel free to call my office # (415) 793-5733 or complete the website contact form and e-mail rm@sakpopup.com.