American Pop Artist Dies at 49

American pop artist and humanitarian Steve Kaufman (founder of SAK studio) died on Feb. 12 at the age of 49. The former assistant to Andy Warhol past away due to heart complications.

In 1968, a Jewish temple in the Bronx sponsored Kaufman to create paintings when he was eight. These paintings were later donated to the Jewish Holocaust Museum in Brooklyn. He never stopped painting after that.

The artist studied at the Visual School of Arts, where he met Andy Warhol and became his assistant at the Factory. He later went on to design graphics for Saturday Night Live and create his own studio.

Aside from his critically acclaimed pop art, Kaufman was known for his humanitarian work. He began the Give Kids a Break Fund, a charity that helped inner city youth. He also started an AIDS awareness campaign and was arrested with AIDS demonstrators after chain-locking New York City's mayor in his office.

“Over the years, I have watched Steve Kaufman evolve as an artist and a person,” writer David Davis said in a statement. “His kindness and generosity towards others, was part of his day to day life. Steve has lived through more in his young lifetime than most people will ever dream of. He was a true survivor. As life goes on, Steve will be the biggest missing part of my heart. I am proud to have had Steve as my best friend and second brother. The world will truly miss this man.”