Elefante Africano, de Espécies Ameaçadas (African Elephant, from Endangered Species) - Andy Warhol

Elefante Africano, de Espécies Ameaçadas (African Elephant, from Endangered Species) - Andy Warhol

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Serigrafia - 96x96 - 1983

Andy Warhol created his Endangered Species series of screenprints in 1983, ten years after the passage of the United States Endangered Species Act. In the early 1980s Warhol had a discussion with art dealer and long-time political and environmental activists, Ronald and Frayda Feldman about beach erosion and several other ecological issues. Inspired by their conversation, the Feldmans, whose gallery Ronald Feldman Fine Art, New York was known for supporting innovative art projects and installations, commissioned Warhol to create a portfolio of ten silkscreen prints titled Endangered Species. Warhol, who had a deep fondness and interest in animals, embraced the idea.

Grevy's Zebra, African Elephant and Giant Panda from this series depict the endangered animals in a colorful, upbeat manner, which Warhol described as" animals in make-up ". His focus on the animals in isolation, with his pop-art palette, puts them on a level of superstardom along with the famous screenprints of his past: Marilyn Monroe, Liz Taylor and Muhammad Ali.

"I think having land and not ruining it is the most beautiful art that anybody could ever want to own."

Endangered Species was exhibited at the Museum of Natural History in New York following publication in addition to other natural history museums throughout the United States. Warhol personally selected the museum’s Reptile Room to exhibit the portfolio. Ronald Feldman recounts Warhol staying for hours in the museum. The staff however was surprised by the artist’s selection of the space and were concerned that the venue would dissuade partygoers from seeing the set, but Warhol loved the bright colors of the room’s inhabitants. Ultimately, Feldman recounts that the room was mobbed on the night of the event. Endangered Species has been viewed as one of Warhol’s most important works in the medium ever since.

Andy Warhol’s commitment to the environment continued following his death, endowing his beachfront property in Long Island to The Nature Conservancy from The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts in order to preserve a section of the ecologically significant Montauk Moorlands. In the present moment, nearly all of the animals depicted remain in danger of extinction. Texto da Christie's.

Nota do blog: Data 2026 / Crédito para Christie's.