Richard Pettibone — Flowers For Sale

Andy Warhol's Flowers stand among the most recognisable and widely collected images in twentieth-century printmaking. First exhibited as paintings at the Leo Castelli Gallery in 1964, the motif was translated into the definitive 1970 screenprint portfolio (Feldman & Schellmann II.64–73) published by Factory Additions. This portfolio is the canonical edition through which most collectors today acquire a Warhol Flowers print.

What Is the Flowers Series?

The composition is deceptively simple: four flat hibiscus blooms hovering against a densely abstracted ground of grass. Warhol stripped the image of depth and naturalism, rendering the petals as bold, poster-flat shapes that float between the decorative and the abstract. The colour treatment is the series' engine — across the ten prints the palette ranges from near-naturalistic to wholly artificial, transforming the same four blooms into electric, mood-shifting variations.

The source image was a photograph of hibiscus flowers by Patricia Caulfield, originally published in a 1964 photography magazine. Caulfield's subsequent legal claim over Warhol's appropriation was settled out of court — an episode now regarded as a landmark moment in the law of artistic appropriation and a defining footnote in the series' history.

Edition and Production Details

The 1970 portfolio comprises ten screenprints on Arches 88 paper, each measuring approximately 36 × 36 inches. The edition consists of 250 signed and numbered impressions plus 26 artist's proofs, published by Factory Additions, New York. Each sheet was signed by Warhol — typically in ballpoint or felt-tip pen on the verso — and stamp-numbered, the standard markers collectors and specialists rely on for the 1970 edition.

Individual Works and Top Variants

• FS II.64 — black ground with vivid magenta blooms; the most iconic and sought-after image in the set, and the one most frequently reproduced.
• FS II.68 — a softer register, with mint and pink blooms against a pale white ground, prized for its decorative balance.
• FS II.73 — a deep, jewel-toned variant in purple and gold, among the richest colourways in the portfolio.

Each impression in the portfolio carries its own collector following, but the high-contrast, saturated examples consistently command the strongest attention.

Market and Price Context

The Flowers prints occupy a stable and liquid corner of the Warhol market. Individual screenprints from the 1970 edition typically trade between $25,000 and $80,000 at auction, with price determined by colourway, condition, freshness to market and provenance. The original 1964 canvases occupy an entirely different tier, achieving seven figures and beyond when they appear.

Part of the series' enduring market resilience lies in its decorative versatility — the images sit comfortably in both rigorous Pop collections and contemporary interiors — combined with deep institutional validation. Flowers appears in virtually every major museum Pop holding worldwide, reinforcing both scholarly importance and long-term value.

Authentication

Given the image's popularity, careful authentication is essential. Genuine 1970 portfolio impressions are documented in the Feldman & Schellmann catalogue raisonné (II.64–73) and should display the correct paper (Arches 88), dimensions, signature and stamped numbering. Provenance documentation and condition reporting — with attention to light exposure, paper tone and any restoration — are central to valuation. We advise acquiring only impressions with verifiable catalogue references and clear ownership history.

Acquiring a Warhol Flowers Print

Guy Hepner regularly handles Flowers prints across the full range of colourways and price points, from accessible entry examples to the most coveted variants. Whether you are acquiring your first Warhol or refining an established collection, our specialists can advise on availability, condition and current market value. View available Andy Warhol Flowers prints for sale or contact the gallery to discuss a specific image or colourway.