Jimmy Carter II 151 by Andy Warhol is a 1976 screenprint created during Jimmy Carter’s presidential campaign. The portrait features Carter’s broad smile against a striking background of red, white, and blue—an unmistakably patriotic palette. Warhol outlined the future president’s face and hand in bold black lines, filling the composition with vibrant patches of peach, scarlet, and cobalt. The colors reflect both the optimism of Carter’s message and the energy of the American spirit he represented during the election. The artwork radiates warmth and charisma, transforming a campaign image into a work of Pop Art exuberance.
Moreover, the Democratic National Committee commissioned the print. It was part of Carter’s effort to reach younger and more culturally engaged voters. By collaborating with Warhol, Carter aligned himself with the avant-garde world of contemporary art and modern media. The choice also helped position him as a progressive candidate, open to new forms of expression. Warhol’s reputation as a pop culture icon gave the campaign an instant link to youth and creativity. The artist captured Carter smiling, approachable, and confident—offering a personable visual counterpart to the sincerity of his political message.
Printed by Rupert Jasen Smith in New York and published by the Democratic National Committee in Washington, D.C., Jimmy Carter II 151 was released alongside Jimmy Carter I 150. Together, the two portraits form a complementary pair: one reflective and composed, the other bright and triumphant. In both works, Warhol’s screenprinting technique—layered, flat, and precise—transforms political portraiture into cultural iconography.
Jimmy Carter II 151 by Andy Warhol as Part of His Larger Body of Work
The intersection of fame, politics, and mass media endlessly fascinated Warhol. Throughout his career, he depicted figures who embodied public influence, from Mao Zedong and Vladimir Lenin to Liz Taylor and Mick Jagger. In these works, suggested that both celebrity and leadership operated on the same stage of visibility and image-making. His vibrant color blocks and graphic outlines gave political portraits the glamour of magazine covers, turning world leaders into media icons.
Jimmy Carter II 151 is also notable as a double-signed edition, bearing the signatures of both Warhol and President Carter. This rare feature links it to Warhol’s limited group of double-signed celebrity portraits, works jointly signed by artist and subject. The collaboration between art and politics underscores Warhol’s fascination with power, fame, and authenticity. Ultimately, the print stands as a symbol of the 1976 campaign’s optimism and of Warhol’s lasting ability to fuse national identity with the visual language of Pop Art.
Photo Credit: Andy Warhol with his portrait of Jimmy Carter. Unknown photographer. Courtesy of Trib Live.
