Auction Results
11 works
Richard Pettibone Warhol Flowers 1964 (Blue) For Sale
Richard Pettibone
Warhol Flowers 1964 (Blue), 1970
Silkscreen and oil/acrylic on canvas in artist´s frame
3 x 3 in 7.6 x 7.6 cm
About this work
Richard Pettibone, a prominent figure in the Pop Art movement, gained recognition for his meticulous reproductions of works by iconic artists like Andy Warhol. Pettibone's flower paintings, created after Warhol's renowned flower series, stand as both homage and reinterpretation of Warhol's original works. In the wake of Warhol's groundbreaking exploration of consumer culture and mass production, Pettibone emerged as an artist deeply influenced by Warhol's aesthetic and conceptual approach. Pettibone's flower paintings, executed in the 1960s and beyond, reflect his fascination with Warhol's appropriation of commercial imagery and his keen interest in the intersection of art and popular culture. Pettibone's flower paintings meticulously replicate Warhol's floral compositions, often on a smaller scale, employing techniques such as silk-screening and stencil application. By faithfully reproducing Warhol's imagery, Pettibone raises questions about authorship, authenticity, and the commodification of art. His works blur the boundaries between originality and reproduction, challenging conventional notions of artistic creation and value. However, Pettibone's flower paintings are more than mere replicas; they represent a sophisticated engagement with Warhol's legacy and a nuanced exploration of the nature of art in the age of mechanical reproduction. By appropriating Warhol's imagery and techniques, Pettibone offers a commentary on the pervasive influence of mass media and consumerism on contemporary society. Furthermore, Pettibone's flower paintings serve as a form of artistic dialogue with Warhol, reflecting on themes of appropriation, imitation, and artistic identity. Through his meticulous re-creations of Warhol's flowers, Pettibone acknowledges Warhol's impact on the trajectory of contemporary art while asserting his own creative voice within the context of Pop Art. In essence, Richard Pettibone's flower paintings after Andy Warhol offer a compelling exploration of the complexities inherent in the relationship between art, commerce, and culture. By paying homage to Warhol's iconic imagery while simultaneously interrogating its significance, Pettibone underscores the enduring relevance of Pop Art as a critical lens through which to examine the world around us.
Price on Application
Auction History
Two works: (i) Andy Warhol, "Flowers", 1964; (ii) Andy Warhol, "Flowers", 1964 · Richard Pettibone · Phillips · 2025-09 · $2,541
Andy Warhol, 'Flowers', 1964 · Richard Pettibone · Christie's · 2024-12 · $0
Andy Warhol, 'Flowers', 1964 · Richard Pettibone · Christie's · 2024-03 · $0
Andy Warhol, 'Flowers,' 1964 · Richard Pettibone · Sotheby's · 2022-07 · $15,120
Andy Warhol, Flowers, 1964 · Richard Pettibone · Sotheby's · 2022-05 · $20,160
More from this series
More series by Richard Pettibone
About the Flowers Series
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.
About Richard Pettibone
Richard Pettibone (b. 1938) is an American artist celebrated as a pioneer of appropriation art, producing meticulous miniature reproductions of works by Warhol, Lichtenstein, Duchamp, and other twentieth-century masters. His precise, jewel-like paintings challenge notions of authorship and originality and are held by major collections including the Museum of Modern Art in New York.