Andy Warhol was commissioned by the Democratic National Committee to design a portrait for Jimmy Carter’s presidential campaign. By employing Warhol as the artist, Jimmy Carter hoped to reach out to the younger voters and the voters of New York, thus utilizing Warhol’s status as a pop culture icon to his advantage. This strategic move by the hopeful Democratic was an attempt to position himself as a progressive candidate. Jimmy Carter I 150 shows Jimmy Carter with a gleaming smile, perhaps to appeal to his voters. Jimmy Carter I 150 reveals a serious and pensive side to the presidential candidate, opposite of the jubilant Carter that Warhol created after he was elected president.
Warhol’s Jimmy Carter I was printed by Gem Screens in New York and published by the Democratic National Committee in Washington, DC.
Jimmy Carter I 150 by Andy Warhol as Part of His Larger Body of Work
Although Warhol is best-known for his large-scale screenprints, Warhol was also a revered photographer who collected images from mass media sources throughout his early career. His interest in politics and political figures is evident throughout his work. Warhol has created screenprints of leaders such as Mao Zedong, Alexander the Great, Vladimir Lenin and Richard Nixon. Warhol’s image of Jimmy Carter is just one of many prints that stirred up debate about the pairing of politics and pop culture, blurring the line between public stature and stardom.
Photo credit: Andy Warhol with his portrait of Jimmy Carter. Unknown photographer. Courtesy of Trib Live.
