Andy Warhol Karen Kain (F & S II.236) For Sale

Karen Kain is a screenprint published by Warhol in 1980. It is a portrait of the principle ballet dancer Karen Kain, based on a poloroid the artist took of her. 

Since the 1970s, Warhol had created a large number of portraits of influential people on commission. As with this example, the artist always began by taking a polaroid of his sitter. This portrait of Karen is a particularly electric and colourful example of Warhol’s portraits heralding the eccentricity of the 80s: usually Warhol left parts of the image black and white. It is also covered with a layer of diamond dust, a favoured product used by Warhol during this period.