Sunset — Andy Warhol

Andy Warhol: Sunset Series (F.S. II.85-88)

Series Performance & Market Position

Andy Warhol's Sunset portfolio commands serious attention from collectors seeking entry into the artist's most romantically charged body of work. At Guy Hepner, our track record of 478 Warhol transactions totalling over $51 million across 292 collectors positions us to speak with direct authority on this series' trajectory.

Recent auction activity demonstrates sustained institutional and private demand. In April 2025, individual Sunset prints achieved USD 277,200, with additional examples realising USD 214,200 in the same sale cycle. The Peach variant has traded at USD 180,600, establishing a clear pricing hierarchy within the portfolio based on colour saturation and visual impact.

These figures must be understood against Warhol's broader market dominance. His Shot Sage Blue Marilyn shattered records at Christie's in May 2022, achieving $195,040,000—the highest sum ever paid for a twentieth-century artwork at auction. More recently, Mao prints (F.S. II.96 and II.97) each brought $4,648,000 at Christie's in May 2025, while Flowers achieved $4,076,000 and $3,832,000 at Sotheby's that same month. Within this ecosystem, the Sunset series offers relative accessibility without sacrificing the visual gravitas that defines Warhol's finest screen print work.

What distinguishes these prints in the current market is their crossover appeal: they function equally well in contemporary minimalist interiors and alongside Old Master collections, a versatility that expands the buyer pool considerably.

Technical & Historical Context

Warhol created the Sunset portfolio in 1972, producing 632 unique screen prints across an intentionally varied colour spectrum. The edition emerged from a commission by collector Philip Johnson, who sought imagery for the Hotel & Motor Lodge in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Each print measures 34 x 34 inches—a confident, wall-commanding scale that suited both hospitality environments and private residences.

The technical execution reflects Warhol's Factory production at its most refined. Working with screen printing techniques he had mastered throughout the 1960s, Warhol applied multiple colour layers to achieve the gradated atmospheric effects that distinguish this series. Unlike the flat, graphic punch of his Marilyn or Campbell's Soup works, the Sunsets embrace environmental subtlety—the smeared horizon line, the bleeding colour transitions that suggest both industrial pollution and natural beauty.

Culturally, the series arrived during Warhol's mature period, when his critical reputation had stabilised and his market position allowed experimentation beyond celebrity portraiture. The Sunsets represent Pop Art engaging with landscape tradition, filtering Romantic subject matter through commercial reproduction processes.

Individual Works & Collector Preferences

The Sunset portfolio comprises eight primary colour variations, each carrying distinct collector appeal based on palette and visual presence.

Sunset F.S. II 85-88 (Red) consistently achieves premium pricing, with April 2025 results at USD 277,200 confirming strong demand. The saturated crimson field creates immediate visual impact, appealing to collectors who favour bold statement pieces.

Sunset F.S. II 85-88 Peach attracts buyers seeking softer tonal balance. Trading at USD 180,600 in recent sales, this variant integrates more readily into diverse interior schemes while maintaining the series' essential character.

Sunset F.S. II 85-88 Violet and Blue appeal to collectors already holding works with cooler palettes—they pair exceptionally well with Warhol's Flowers and certain Marilyn colourways.

Sunset F.S. II 85-88 Green, Orange, and Chartreuse occupy interesting positions: less frequently traded, they represent potential value opportunities for collectors comfortable with unconventional colour choices.

From our experience placing these works, we observe that serious Warhol collectors often acquire multiple colourways, treating the portfolio as a cohesive installation. Single-print buyers typically gravitate toward Red or Peach variants, prioritising resale liquidity alongside aesthetic preference.

Authentication & Condition Considerations

Authentication of Sunset prints requires examination of several series-specific markers. Legitimate examples bear Warhol's signature and are stamped on verso. The Andy Warhol Art Authentication Board, though no longer accepting submissions, previously reviewed the majority of significant examples; its documentation remains the gold standard.

Condition assessment for these works focuses on several factors. The gradient colour fields reveal any restoration or inpainting immediately—the subtle tonal transitions cannot be convincingly retouched. Examine the horizon line carefully: this area shows the most complex colour layering and is vulnerable to cracking or flaking if improperly stored.

Paper condition matters substantially. Surface abrasions appear more readily on the expansive colour fields than on busier compositions. Fading, particularly in the Peach and Chartreuse variants, can diminish value significantly. We recommend requesting detailed UV photography before any acquisition to identify restoration work not visible under standard lighting.

Framing history affects long-term condition. Works stored in archival conditions with UV-filtering glazing maintain colour integrity; those displayed in direct sunlight may show measurable degradation.

Investment Analysis & 2026 Acquisition Strategy

Within Warhol's extensive print catalogue, the Sunset series occupies a particular niche: lower absolute pricing than Marilyn, Mao, or Flowers portfolios, yet produced in limited enough quantity to support price appreciation. The 632-print edition sounds substantial, but attrition through damage, institutional acquisition, and long-term collection holds has tightened available supply meaningfully.

Comparing series performance, the gap between Sunset pricing and major Warhol icons has narrowed over the past decade. While a Flowers print might command $3-4 million at Sotheby's, quality Sunsets trading under $300,000 represent compelling relative value—particularly given the visual scale and art historical significance.

For 2026, we advise collectors to prioritise the Red and standard colourway variants, which demonstrate the strongest secondary market liquidity. Buyers with longer holding horizons might consider Green or Chartreuse examples at current levels, accepting lower liquidity in exchange for acquisition prices that leave meaningful appreciation room.

The optimal approach involves securing examples in exceptional condition now, before continued Warhol market strength elevates the entire print catalogue further.

Acquire Through Guy Hepner

For current availability, pricing, and condition reports on Andy Warhol Sunset prints, contact our New York team directly. We maintain active relationships with collectors holding museum-quality examples and can facilitate both immediate acquisitions and targeted searches for specific colourways.

Guy Hepner | New York