10 Pop Icons Andy Warhol Immortalized on Canvas

Andy Warhol, a pioneer of pop art, was more than just his famed soup cans.

His impact on the New York scene through the 60s and 70s spanned beyond canvas into celebrity portraits. Warhol’s work, rich with vibrant colors and commercial imagery, transformed everyday objects and famous faces into high art.

Here, we delve into the lesser-known segments of Warhol’s portfolio, showcasing how his artistic genius extended beyond the familiar, highlighting his versatility and lasting influence on visual and popular culture.

1. Elvis Presley

As with many of his subjects, the paintings of Elvis Presley follow two regular Warhol patterns. There is more than one example, and individual artworks contain repeated images of the musician. We have the “Triple Elvis” and “Eight Elvises” to enjoy.

When Andy Warhol painted “Eight Elvises” in 1963, Presley was at the height of fame. The silkscreen on canvas painting features Elvises in cowboy gear overlapping. When it last came onto the market in 2008, it was sold to a private buyer for $100 million.

2. Prince

Many associate Andy Warhol’s work with the 1960s and 1970s. Several of his most memorable paintings date back to these decades, but he worked with contemporary musicians, too.

In 1984, Warhold painted “Orange Prince,” based on an original photograph in Vanity Fair magazine. We usually associate the musician with the color purple. However, his sister Tyka Nelson claimed that his favorite color was orange. Andy Warhol extensively used the shade throughout his career.

3. Debbie Harry

Warhol faithfully replicated blondie lead singer Debbie Harry’s striking looks in one of his most memorable paintings. The work was executed in 1980 and produced in a 42-inch format, which was rare for the artist.

Andy Warhol’s portrait of Debbie Harry used multiple layers of ink on acrylic with a silkscreen finish. When the original artwork was auctioned at Sotheby’s in 2011, it sold for an incredible $9.5 million, dwarfing its original estimate of $2.5 to $3.5 million.

4. Dolly Parton

Dolly’s bright red lipstick is the focal point of this 1984 portrait. Warhol loved an element of kitsch, and that’s evidenced in this work, where the country singer’s blonde locks fade into the background while her makeup stands out.

Dolly Parton would have loved the portrait, even if its 2012 auction price of $626,000 is low compared to other work here. They may seem like contrasting personalities, but she was great friends with Andy Warhol.

5. Michael Jackson

Andy Warhol’s 1984 painting of Michael Jackson appears in different mediums. The original work now appears in the National Portrait Gallery and is one of a few that haven’t made it into the hands of a private collector.

Jackson’s smiling features also appear on the cover of Time magazine from March of the same year. Warhol confessed that he didn’t like the design, but his office and magazine members loved it.

6. Mick Jagger

Most of the subjects in Andy Warhol’s paintings adopt dour expressions, but his portraits of Mick Jagger show the singer’s vibrant personality. Warhol produced multiple works of the Rolling Stones frontman, each showing Jagger in a typical stage pose.

The two men first met during the Stones’ 1963 tour of the United States. Along with the 1970s series of portraits, Warhol also designed the unmistakable artwork for the band’s 1971 album Sticky Fingers.

7. Diana Ross

Andy Warhol’s painting of Diana Ross appears on the singer’s 1982 studio album, Silk Electric. The work is a classic head-and-shoulders portrait, which defines much of the artist’s work. The good news is that you can own a piece of Warhol art by purchasing the album for a few dollars.

The original work is more expensive, and it set one buyer back a cool $11,200 when they purchased a Polaroid print of Diana Ross by Andy Warhol at Christie’s in 2015.

8. John Lennon

John Lennon is another musician whose Andy Warhol portrait was used as an album cover. Sadly, Menlove Ave was a posthumous release from 1986, and Warhol’s striking artwork focuses solely on this lover singer and songwriter.

The artist developed the original piece between 1985 and 1986, similar in style to Warhol’s portrait of Lenin. When it was sold at Christie’s in 2014, Lennon’s portrait fetched a relatively modest $2.853 million.

9. The Beatles

Andy Warhol painted a famous Beatle and once completed a portrait of the whole band. The artist rarely strayed from his portraits, so The Beatles received a rare honor.

In reality, the 1980 work is a compilation of four separate works of each band member. It neatly underlines how John, Paul, George, and Ringo drifted away from each other in later years. An original Warhol design of a Beatles book cover also hangs in the Tate Gallery in the UK.

10. Pia Zadora

While best known for her acting skills, Pia Zadora enjoyed a lengthy music career, releasing ten albums between 1982 and 2020. She also landed a number-one hit in Germany with the 1984 single “When the Rain Begins to Fall,” although the contribution of Jermaine Jackson may have aided that success.

Andy Warhol painted Zadora in 1983, producing another silkscreen portrait. The actress and musician later claimed that the artist was a “big fan” of her work and kept the original as a centerpiece in her home.