Shadows III 220 by Andy Warhol is one of six screenprints from the Shadows III Complete Portfolio. A broad black shadow cuts across vibrant fields of golden yellow and magenta pink, while energetic sponge-mop strokes leave visible textures throughout the lighter passages. The soft edge of the shadow contrasts with the expressive brushwork, giving Shadows III 220 a dynamic balance between precision and spontaneity. Warhol published the print in 1979 in collaboration with his preferred printer, Rupert Jasen Smith, and exhibited the series that same year at the Heiner Friedrich Gallery in New York.
The Origins of the Shadows Series
Speaking about Shadows, Warhol famously remarked, “Someone asked me if I thought they were art and I said no… disco décor.” Even so, he embraced the decorative quality of the series. He later staged a fashion shoot for Interview magazine against the Shadows panels. According to former MOCA director Philippe Vergne, Warhol also dreamed of covering the walls of Studio 54 with the works. Furthermore, he incorporated diamond dust into many prints, giving them a subtle sparkle that suited their nightclub atmosphere.
Shadows III 220 in Warhol’s Larger Body of Work
Vergne also noted that Warhol never saw all 102 Shadows panels installed together. Moreover, Warhol left no instructions for their arrangement and deliberately chose not to number them. As a result, every installation creates a different visual rhythm. Unlike most of Warhol’s portfolios, each print functions independently while contributing to a much larger installation.
Although Shadows III 220 moves away from Warhol’s celebrated consumer products and celebrity portraits, it reflects his growing interest in abstraction during the late 1970s. Each print repeats the same underlying image while transforming it through color, texture, and surface. Consequently, Shadows III 220 demonstrates how Warhol could create remarkable variety from a single photographic source.
Photo credits:
- Arthur Tress, Andy Warhol, 1979. Image: © Arthur Tress, © Courtesy Dia Art Foundation, New York. Artwork © 2021 The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, Inc. / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York.
- Warhol priming Shadow paintings, 1979. Image and Artwork: © 2021 The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, Inc. / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York.
