Andy Warhol’s Myths Complete Portfolio (1981) features ten screenprints of the most iconic fictional characters of the 20th century. Warhol had long been fascinated by celebrity, drawn to the glamor of Hollywood and the stars who defined it. He portrayed many high-profile figures and icons, from Marilyn Monroe and Elvis Presley to Muhammad Ali and Mao Zedong.
With Myths, however, Warhol shifted his focus. Instead of real-world celebrities, he turned to fictional characters from history, literature, film, and television. These figures came from many sources, but they all shaped popular culture in profound ways. Each became a recognizable symbol of childhood nostalgia and manufactured dreams, recalling weekends at the movies or mornings spent in front of the television.
Personal Connections in Myths
Beyond their widespread relevance, each print in Myths also holds a personal connection to Warhol. The portfolio reveals distinct facets of Warhol’s personality and past. Santa Claus reflects his long-standing love for Christmas, and Superman recalls his childhood fascination with heroes. As a boy, Warhol often struggled with illness that left him weak and confined at home. Comic books provided comfort, and Clark Kent—the timid reporter who transformed into a hero—offered an image of strength and possibility.
Uncle Sam reflects Warhol’s connection to American identity. As one of the most quintessentially American artists of his era, Warhol constantly returned to themes like consumerism, patriotism, and celebrity. These subjects defined postwar culture, and Myths reframed them through fictional archetypes rather than living stars.
Composition and Source Material
The Myths complete portfolio includes FS II.258-267: The Star, Uncle Sam, The Witch, Mammy, Howdy Doody, Dracula, Mickey Mouse, Superman, Santa Claus, and The Shadow. To create these works, Warhol drew from multiple sources. Some prints came from Polaroids of his friends dressed in costumes, while others were based on stills from Hollywood films or television. Warhol enlarged these images, added vibrant colors and bold tracings, and transformed them into striking Pop compositions.
The series epitomizes Warhol’s ability to distill American popular culture into unforgettable images. For this reason, Myths has become one of his most valuable and sought-after portfolios.
Myths Complete Portfolio by Andy Warhol as Part of His Larger Body of Work
Myths reflects Warhol’s uncanny instinct for the motifs that defined his time. The characters range from beloved children’s figures like Mickey Mouse and Santa Claus to darker icons like Dracula and The Wicked Witch of the West. Each represents a different side of Warhol’s personality, blending humor, nostalgia, and cultural critique.
Warhol created the collection in the early 1980s, one of the most prolific periods in his career. He practiced and perfected his screen printing methods and produced other incredibly intricate works during this time, including the Ten Portraits of Jews of the Twentieth Centuryand the Endangered Species series.
Together, these works demonstrate Warhol’s lasting ability to transform cultural symbols—both real and fictional—into art that continues to resonate today.
Photo Credits:
1- Andy Warhol Holding Dracula Myth, 1981. © Robert Levin.
2- Andy Warhol at R. Feldman Gallery with Myths, 1981. © Robert Levin.
