Flowers Andy Warhol
Andy Warhol first created a series of Flowers for his inaugural solo exhibition at New York’s Leo Castelli Gallery in 1964. The show, entitled Flower Paintings, was a sell-out success and an important moment for Warhol as it signalled the artist’s public transition from commercial illustrator to contemporary New York artist. The following year Warhol exhibited additional Flowers in his 1965 Paris show at the Sonnabend Gallery. In 1970, he went on to create a Flowers portfolio containing ten screen prints.
Warhol’s 1964 Flower Paintings show was hugely significant. The gallery walls were lined with canvases of varying sizes, all with the same floral motif in different vibrant colours, and encompassing interesting variations afforded by the screen printing process. On one wall the artist exhibited twenty-eight pieces measuring 24 x 24 inches, each with four flowers screen printed onto canvas. Other larger works featured two flowers.
- How does the Flowers Series relate to Andy Warhol’s oeuvre?
- How did Andy Warhol create the Flowers Series?
- What inspired the Flowers Series?
- How do I sell an Andy Warhol Print?
- How do I buy an Andy Warhol Print?
- How much does an original Andy Warhol Flowers cost?
- Where can I see Andy Warhol’s Flowers Prints?
- Sell an Andy Warhol Flowers Print
- Andy Warhol: Flowers Series Quick Facts
How does the Flowers Series relate to Andy Warhol’s oeuvre?
In focusing on a single subject and repeating this across multiple canvases Warhol referenced mechanical and commercial forms of reproduction found in advertising and the mass media. In 1963, in an article entitled ‘What is Pop Art? Answers from 8 Painters’ the artist stated “The reason I'm painting this way is that I want to be a machine, and I feel that whatever I do and do machine-like is what I want to do.” As well as demonstrating the artist’s mastery of the screen print process, Warhol’s Flowers paintings and portfolios are a compelling embodiment of this premise.
Warhol reimagined traditional artistic themes. His Cow re-envisions a pastoral subject, recasting the animal in acid colours, turning it into a repeated graphic motif. His portraits such as Liz and Marilyn are less a contemplation on the personality of his sitter, and more a depiction of the mass media frenzy surrounding the subject. They are portraits of fame. Similarly, the artist’s Flowers paintings are like no other still life floral paintings before them. They are unmistakably Warhol as they engage with questions of appropriation and image production that became central to an understanding of his work.
How did Andy Warhol create the Flowers Series?
To create the Flowers Series, Warhol used a photograph of hibiscus flowers taken by Patricia Caulfield and found in a 1964 issue of Modern Photography. Caulfield later filed a lawsuit against Warhol for using her image without permission. By using existing imagery as source material, Warhol questioned long-held definitions of ‘fine art’ that centred on traditional understandings of originality and authorship.
What inspired the Flowers Series?
It has been noted that Warhol was advised by his friend and art critic Henry Geldzhaler to paint flowers. Commentators have speculated that the flowers themselves were symbols of mourning, following the assassination of President John F. Kennedy while others have remarked that the series reflects the artist’s engagement with the dawning era of ‘flower power’. Made a year after his Death and Disaster paintings and during the same year as the Thirteen Most Wanted Men portraits, Warhol’s Flowers were potent because they were unexpected and intriguing. Their ambiguity retains the power to captivate. The series demonstrates the artist’s unparalleled ability to take an everyday subject and turn it into iconic Warholian imagery; imagery that continues to intrigue and enthral to this day.
How do I sell an Andy Warhol Print?
To list a work by Warhol on our site is completely free of charge, and we do not charge any referral fees in the event of you finding a buyer for your work, making us the best place to offer your Warhol work. The services of your dedicated broker, the marketing of your piece for sale through our networks and our comprehensive digital marketing will begin without charge to you. In fact we do not take any charge from the seller at any point during the service we provide. We’re confident that the MyArtBroker platform will match you with a buyer and that’s why we’re happy support you from the outset. Your other option is auction, where they will charge you up to 15% plus several charges to cover the cost of putting the work through sale. You can find out more about this here.
How do I buy an Andy Warhol Print?
One the easiest and most cost effective ways of buying a Warhol work is by using us to reach a seller. MyArtBroker is a curated site, meaning we feature artists that our collectors say they want. View the Warhol works we currently offer here. You’ll need to create a free account to buy or sell with us.
How much does an original Andy Warhol Flowers cost?
We employ a number of techniques and practices in order to give a realistic and achievable valuation on any art listed on myartbroker.com. We analyse the demand for the Warhol in question, take into consideration previous sales and auction valuations, we assess the current gallery valuation and monitor the current deals taking place via MyArtBroker every day. We regularly advise sellers on a price bracket for their artwork completely free of charge. Find out how much your Warhol is worth today.
Where can I see Andy Warhol’s Flowers Prints?
Top Spots
- Guggenheim Museum, New York
- Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago
- Museum of Modern Art, New York
Sell an Andy Warhol Flowers Print
If you have a Flowers Print for sale, request a free valuation today.
Andy Warhol: Flowers Series Quick Facts
- Warhol’s friend, Henry Geldzhaler, encouraged him to approach the subject
- The series is based on a photograph of hibiscus flowers taken by Patricia Caulfield
- Flowers are suspected to be related to themes of death
- Warhol’s Flowers sold for $10.2 million USD in 2014
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