Andy Warhol's Shot Marilyns series is a captivating collection of silkscreen paintings that has intrigued art enthusiasts and collectors alike. Created in 1964, these paintings are iconic representations of Marilyn Monroe, a symbol of Hollywood glamour. Warhol's fascination with fame and celebrity culture is evident in this series, which has become one of his most celebrated works. The story behind the creation and subsequent events surrounding these paintings adds
layers of intrigue and historical significance.
The Creation of Shot Marilyns
In 1964, Andy Warhol produced a series of silkscreen paintings featuring Marilyn Monroe, each measuring 40 inches square. Warhol's choice of Monroe as a subject was influenced by her status as a Hollywood icon and her untimely death in 1962. The series includes five portraits, each with a different colored background: red, orange, light blue, sage blue, and turquoise. These paintings were based on a publicity photo from Monroe's 1953 film, Niagara.
Warhol's technique of using silkscreen allowed him to reproduce images quickly and with variations, a method that became a hallmark of his work. The Shot Marilyns series was stored at The Factory, Warhol's studio in Manhattan, where they would soon become part of an unexpected event that would further cement their place in art history.
The Infamous Shooting Incident
The Shot Marilyns series gained notoriety due to an incident involving performance artist Dorothy Podber. A friend of Factory photographer Billy Name, Podber visited the studio and asked Warhol if she could shoot the paintings. Warhol, misunderstanding her intent, agreed, thinking she meant to photograph them. Instead, Podber pulled out a revolver and fired a shot into the stack of paintings, hitting four of them.
This act of vandalism left a faint bullet mark on the paintings, despite Warhol's efforts to repair them. The incident was later described by Name as a "performance piece" by Podber, who was subsequently banned from The Factory. The paintings became known as the Shot Marilyns, and the story of their shooting added to their mystique and value.
The Legacy and Acquisitions
Over the years, the Shot Marilyns have changed hands among prominent collectors, each sale contributing to their legendary status. The Blue Shot Marilyn was purchased by Peter Brant for $5,000 in 1967. The Shot Red Marilyn was sold for $4.1 million in 1989, and later resold at a loss. The Orange Marilyn fetched $17.3 million in 1998 and was later acquired by Kenneth C. Griffin for around $200 million in 2017.
The Shot Sage Blue Marilyn set a record in 2022 when it was auctioned for $195 million, becoming the most expensive 20th-century artwork sold at a public sale. The buyer, art dealer Larry Gagosian, added another chapter to the storied history of these remarkable paintings. The Shot Marilyns continue to captivate art lovers and collectors, symbolizing the enduring allure of Warhol's work and Monroe's legacy.
