Priya Kapoor
Andy Warhol's Shot Marilyns is a series of silkscreen paintings produced in 1964, each a portrait of Marilyn Monroe with a different coloured background. The paintings are perhaps the most famous works he ever created and are an iconic part of his legacy. The series consists of five paintings, four of which were shot by Dorothy Podber, a performance artist and friend of Factory photographer Billy Name. Podber asked Warhol if she could shoot the paintings, and when he agreed, believing she intended to photograph them, she instead produced a revolver and fired a shot into the stack of four paintings, striking Marilyn right between the eyes. The bullet hole is still faintly visible, despite Warhol's efforts to repair it. The Shot Marilyns are a reminder of the larger-than-life environment that Warhol lived and created in, and the mass production of celebrity culture during that time period.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Artist | Andy Warhol |
| Year | 1964 |
| Subject | Marilyn Monroe |
| Medium | Silkscreen paintings |
| Number of paintings | 5 |
| Background colours | Red, orange, light blue, sage blue, turquoise |
| Size | 40 inches square |
| Backstory | Shot by Dorothy Podber with a revolver |
| Auction record | $195 million |
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What You'll Learn
The creation of the paintings
Warhol's first depiction of Monroe, created in 1962, is known as the "Marilyn Diptych". This piece features fifty identical images of the actress, originating from a headshot taken for her 1953 movie "Niagara". The left side of the canvas portrays Monroe in vibrant colours, reflecting her glamorous public image. On the right, her image becomes blurred, blackened, and faded, representing her slow disappearance from the public eye.
Warhol continued to create silkscreen prints and paintings of Monroe, including the "Shot Marilyns" series in 1964. These paintings were based on a publicity photo for "Niagara" and featured five portraits of Monroe with different coloured backgrounds: red, orange, light blue, sage blue, and turquoise. Each canvas measured 40 inches square.
The "Shot Marilyns" gained infamy after an incident at Warhol's studio, The Factory. Dorothy Podber, a performance artist and friend of Factory photographer Billy Name, asked Warhol if she could "shoot" the paintings. Mistaking her intent, Warhol agreed, believing she intended to photograph them. Instead, Podber pulled out a revolver and fired a shot into the stack of four paintings, leaving a bullet hole in each canvas through Monroe's forehead. The fifth painting with the turquoise background was not in the stack.
The "Shot Marilyns" became some of Warhol's most unique and iconic pieces, with one canvas selling for $4 million in 1989, setting a record for the artist at the time. The paintings reflect Warhol's fascination with Hollywood, fame, and the mass production of celebrity culture. By repeating Monroe's image with different colour variations, he emphasizes her status as an idolized figure within consumer society.
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The shooting of the paintings
Andy Warhol's "Shot Marilyns" are among the most famous works he ever created and are certainly some of his most unique pieces. In 1964, Warhol painted five portraits of Marilyn Monroe, each with a different coloured background: red, orange, light blue, sage blue, and turquoise. These paintings were stored at his famous studio loft, The Factory, located on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. The Factory was always buzzing with artists, photographers, writers, and other creatives, and Warhol frequently threw rowdy parties there, inviting celebrities and other well-known figures in the New York art scene.
Shortly after completing the paintings, Warhol's friend and Factory photographer Billy Name visited with a performance artist named Dorothy Podber. Podber asked Warhol if she could "shoot" the paintings, and Warhol, believing she intended to photograph them, agreed. However, Podber had something else in mind. She removed her black gloves, took out a small revolver, and fired a shot into the stack of four paintings, striking "Marilyn right between the eyes," according to Billy Name. The pieces became known as "The Shot Marilyns," and the bullet hole, despite Warhol's efforts to repair it, is still faintly visible. The fifth painting with the turquoise background was not in the stack and remained unharmed.
The "Shot Marilyns" are a reminder of the larger-than-life environment that Warhol lived and created in. They also embody his fascination with Hollywood and fame, as well as his revolutionary silkscreen method, which he had begun exploring in 1962. This assembly line approach, as he called it, allowed him to reproduce images quickly and with slight variations, much like the mass production of celebrity culture that the paintings also represent. By repeating Monroe's image multiple times with different colour variations, Warhol emphasised her status as an idolised figure within consumer society while questioning notions of authenticity and originality in art.
The "Shot Marilyns" have since become some of Warhol's most valuable works. In 1989, "Shot Red Marilyn," one of the shot canvases with a repaired bullet hole over Marilyn's left eyebrow, sold at auction for $4 million, setting a new record for the artist at the time. More recently, "Shot Sage Blue Marilyn" was auctioned by Christie's in New York City in 2022, selling for $195 million and setting a new mark for the most expensive work of 20th-century art sold in a public sale.
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Andy Warhol's inspiration
Andy Warhol was fascinated by Hollywood and fame. He was inspired to immortalise Marilyn Monroe, an esteemed actress and public figure, in his work after her death in 1962. Monroe is widely considered to be the epitome of Hollywood glamour.
Warhol's first depiction of Monroe, created in 1962, is known as the Marilyn Diptych. Fifty identical images of the actress fill the canvas, originating from a headshot taken for her 1953 movie Niagara. On one side of the canvas, Monroe's image is vibrant and full of life, reflecting the spectacular sense of glamour she exuded. On the other side, her image is blurred, blackened, and faded, as if burning out of existence.
Warhol's "Shot Marilyns" series, produced in 1964, are silkscreen paintings, each a portrait of Monroe with a different coloured background: red, orange, light blue, sage blue, and turquoise. The series became some of Warhol's most unique and sought-after pieces. The backstory behind these canvases is as much a part of the work as the image of Marilyn herself.
One day, Warhol's friend Billy Name visited his studio with a performance artist named Dorothy Podber. Podber asked Warhol if she could "shoot" the Marilyn paintings, and Warhol, misunderstanding her request, believed she intended to photograph them. Instead, Podber pulled out a revolver and shot the stack of four paintings, striking "Marilyn right between the eyes." The pieces became known as "The Shot Marilyns." The bullet hole is still faintly visible, despite Warhol's attempts to repair it.
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Marilyn Monroe's death
On the evening of August 4, 1962, the world lost one of Hollywood's brightest stars, Marilyn Monroe. The American actress, famed for her beauty and glamour, died aged 36 at her home in Brentwood, Los Angeles. Her death was caused by an overdose of barbiturates, ruled a "probable suicide" by the Los Angeles County coroner's office.
Monroe's death sent shockwaves around the globe, with fans and fellow celebrities alike left reeling. The actress had been open about her struggles with substance abuse and mental health issues, but her sudden passing still came as a surprise. In the years preceding her death, Monroe had become increasingly preoccupied with her health and had not completed a film since 'The Misfits' in 1961. She had also been fired from the set of 'Something's Got to Give' in June 1962, with the studio publicly blaming her for production issues.
In the aftermath of her death, conspiracy theories and alternative explanations began to circulate. Some speculated that Monroe had been murdered, with anti-communist activist Frank A. Capell claiming her death was part of a communist conspiracy. Others, including journalist Anthony Summers, conducted their own investigations, but found no evidence to support these theories. The Los Angeles Police Department even reopened her case two decades later, but the district attorney upheld the original ruling of a drug overdose.
Despite the official ruling, questions and uncertainties remained. Monroe's death highlighted the dark side of Hollywood glamour and the fragile nature of even the brightest stars. The circumstances of her passing continue to captivate and intrigue, reflecting the enduring fascination with her life and legacy.
Andy Warhol, a pop artist fascinated with Hollywood and fame, began immortalising Monroe in his work shortly after her death. His series of silkscreen paintings, 'Shot Marilyns', depicted her beautiful face against colourful backgrounds. Each canvas measured 40 inches square, capturing the actress's iconic image. Warhol's work on Monroe, including the ''Marilyn Diptych', contributed to his revolutionary approach to art, blending popular culture and commercial production techniques.
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The paintings' legacy
Andy Warhol's "Shot Marilyns" are perhaps the most famous works he ever created and are an iconic part of his legacy. The paintings are a series of silkscreen portraits of Marilyn Monroe, each canvas measuring 40 inches square, produced in 1964.
Warhol had a fascination with Hollywood and fame, and Monroe, a legend of the silver screen, is widely considered to be the epitome of Hollywood glamour. After her death in August 1962, Warhol began immortalising her in his work. He created his first Marilyn creation in the weeks following her death, and his first depiction of Monroe, known as the "Marilyn Diptych", was created in 1962.
In 1964, Warhol painted five "Marilyns" with different coloured backgrounds: red, orange, light blue, sage blue, and turquoise. These works became known as "The Shot Marilyns" after a performance artist and friend of Factory photographer Billy Name, Dorothy Podber, asked Warhol if she could "shoot" them. Believing she intended to photograph the paintings, Warhol agreed. However, Podber pulled out a revolver and fired a shot into the stack of four paintings, striking "Marilyn right between the eyes". The fifth painting with the turquoise background was not in the stack.
The "Shot Marilyns" became some of Warhol's most unique pieces, with the outlandish backstory behind these four canvases becoming as much a part of the work as the image of Marilyn herself. In 1989, "Shot Red Marilyn", one of the shot canvases with a repaired bullet hole over Marilyn’s left eyebrow, sold at auction for $4 million, which was the most any of his works had sold for at that point. More recently, in 2022, "Shot Sage Blue Marilyn" sold at auction for $195 million, setting a new record for the price paid for a work by an American artist.
The "Shot Marilyns" are a reminder of the larger-than-life environment that Warhol lived and created in, and Podber's performance piece certainly left her mark on Warhol's legacy.
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Frequently asked questions
The mood of Andy Warhol's Shot Marilyns is ironic and celebratory. The painting also evokes a sense of glamour and tragedy.
The subject of the Shot Marilyns is Marilyn Monroe.
Warhol was fascinated with Hollywood and fame. After Marilyn Monroe's death in 1962, he became inspired to immortalise her in his work.
The Shot Marilyns is a series of silkscreen paintings produced in 1964. Each canvas measures 40 inches square and features a portrait of Marilyn Monroe with a different coloured background.
The Shot Marilyns gained their name when performance artist Dorothy Podber asked Warhol if she could “shoot" the paintings. Believing she intended to photograph them, Warhol agreed. However, Podber then pulled out a revolver and shot the paintings, leaving bullet holes in four of the five canvases.
