New York, 1985. Andy Warhol was already a living legend. After revolutionizing the very concept of art by transforming soup cans and Hollywood icons into immortal symbols, he continued to experiment with new collaborations and subjects throughout the 1980s. It was in this context that Turtle (F. & S. II.360A) was born\u2014a color screenprint on Lenox Museum Board, originally created to accompany the film Turtle Diary but which quickly became a stand-alone artwork. The turtle, a symbol of slowness and resilience, is transformed by Warhol into a pop icon, a psychedelic image bursting with saturated colors and bold outlines.<\/p>\n
Turtle is a masterful balance of subject and form. The vibrant pinks, greens, blues, and red accents turn a simple animal into a magnetic visual symbol. The turtle emerges from a neutral background, perfectly crystallizing Warhol\u2019s unmistakable style of rendering even the humblest subject into something iconic. The piece is conceptually linked to his Endangered Species series from 1983, where Warhol celebrated the beauty and fragility of the natural world, though Turtle stands on its own in terms of concept and commission.<\/p>\n
Commissioned as part of the promotional materials for the film Turtle Diary\u2014a story about animal and human liberation written by Harold Pinter\u2014Warhol\u2019s Turtle immediately freed itself from its promotional function to become a fully-fledged artwork. Signed and numbered by the artist, it was printed by the renowned Rupert Jasen Smith studio in New York in an edition of 250 plus 50 AP, 10 PP, 2 BAT, and 10 TP. The subject, reinterpreted by Warhol with his signature flat graphics and bold colors, becomes a symbol of freedom and resilience, further amplified by its cinematic origin.<\/p>\n
The turtle is the undisputed protagonist, rendered in strong red and blue outlines that launch it into a near-psychedelic pop dimension. It\u2019s not just an animal; it\u2019s a pop icon, embodying the paradox between the natural slowness of the subject and the rapid, serial execution characteristic of Warhol\u2019s practice. This tension is what makes Turtle such a powerful and fascinating work.<\/p>\n
Turtle has seen a resurgence in interest among collectors and institutions in recent years. In May 2025, a copy sold at auction at Phillips for $107,950, well above its initial estimate, underscoring the strong demand for this iconic subject. Currently, the average market price for a copy in excellent condition ranges between \u00a395,000 and \u20ac126,000, depending on provenance, condition, and print quality.<\/p>\n
Warhol remains one of the most collected artists worldwide, with Turtle achieving an average annual value growth of +16% over the past five years and a +61% increase in auction results since 2019. The work, listed in the Feldman & Schellmann catalogue raisonn\u00e9 (II.360A), is a guarantee of authenticity and prestige. The Andy Warhol Foundation continues to promote and certify his works, further reinforcing their collectible value.<\/p>\n
Andy Warhol\u2019s works\u2014including Turtle\u2014are housed in the world\u2019s most important museums: MoMA, Whitney Museum, Tate Modern, Centre Pompidou. Warhol has had over 2,500 solo and group exhibitions internationally, cementing his status as a universal and cross-generational artist. Turtle reflects his interest in nature, pop culture, and serial communication, perfectly capturing his artistic vision.<\/p>\n
Owning Turtle, 1985 means adding to one\u2019s collection one of the rarest and most original images from Warhol\u2019s late period\u2014an artwork that embodies the fusion of art, cinema, and society, retaining an undiminished appeal even forty years after its creation. An essential piece for any collector looking to connect with the beating heart of Pop Art.<\/p>\n
Turtle, 1985 by Andy Warhol is an extraordinary example of the artist\u2019s ability to transform any subject into a universal pop icon. With its visual power and unique backstory, it\u2019s a piece that not only tells Warhol\u2019s story but also captures an unrepeatable moment in the history of contemporary art. Adding Turtle to your collection means investing in a key chapter of pop culture and international art.<\/p>\n
Turtle, 1985 by Andy Warhol is available on Collecto. Shares of this extraordinary masterpiece are receiving significant interest, confirming both its collectible importance and its growth potential. Discover Turtle and other iconic Warhol works on Collecto.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Turtle, 1985 by Andy Warhol: one of the artist\u2019s most iconic and rare screenprints, created for the film Turtle Diary. Exceptional provenance, growing market performance, and institutional recognition.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":23,"featured_media":346,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[64,97],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-347","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-art","category-artworks-collecto"],"yoast_head":"\n