Andy Warhol Electric Chairs, 1971 FS II.81 is a warm portrait of New York's Sing Sing Penitentiary's electric chair, known as "Old Sparky."

The print is the only one in the portfolio that shows hand-painted brushstrokes across the composition, giving the work a more personal touch. The fiery reds, oranges and yellows streak across the image of the chair, and presents an odd contrast with the cold and impersonal portrait of the electric chair. Warhol began to explore artistic themes like death and violence after his near death experience from a gunshot wound, inflicted by Valerie Solanas in 1968. Solanas was a radical feminist who frequented Warhol's loft studio in New York, The Factory. At the time of the portfolios creation, the death penalty was under intense national debate, and the punishment was outlawed by the federal government in 1972. The prints present an interesting combination of Warhol's personal thematic exploration and his own social and political commentary.

Created in 1971, this work is a screenprint on paper, hand signed by Andy Warhol in ball-point pen on verso. Numbered from an edition of 250, dated '71 in ball-point and numbered with a rubber stamp on verso, aside from 50 Artist Proofs numbered in Roman numerals, signed and dated in ball-point pen on verso and stamped 'AP' and numbered with a rubber stamp on verso.

Catalogue Raisonné & COA:

Andy Warhol Electric Chairs, 1971 FS II.81 is fully documented and referenced in the below catalogue raisonné and texts (copies will be enclosed as added documentation with the invoices that will accompany the sale of the work).

1. Feldman, Frayda and Jörg Schellmann, A Catalogue Raisonne, 4th ed. Listed as catalogue raisonné no. II.81.
2. A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany this artwork.

About the Framing:

Framed to museum-grade, conservation standards, Andy Warhol Electric Chairs, 1971 FS II.81 is presented in a complementary moulding and finished with silk-wrapped mats and optical grade Plexiglas.

Art Miami 2025