Andy Warhol’s dynamic portrait of Grace Kelly highlights her timeless beauty. Created in 1984, the artwork is inspired by a still from Kelly’s film debut in 1951, Fourteen Hours. Presented in a three-quarter view, the image showcases Kelly’s captivating presence as she gazes confidently at the viewer. Her cropped face dominates the frame, with her golden hair rendered in striking canary yellow. Warhol’s signature Technicolor lines accentuate her elegant features and hair, with the portrait set against a soft turquoise background.
Driven by his fascination with tragedy, Warhol completed this piece two years after Kelly’s untimely death in a 1982 car accident. The portrait was produced to raise funds for the Institute of Contemporary Art at the University of Pennsylvania, in collaboration with the Princess Grace Foundation. As a key figure in Monaco’s cultural development, Kelly established the foundation to support local artisans. After her passing, the Princess Grace Foundation (USA) was founded to continue her mission of nurturing emerging talent.
The connection between Grace Kelly and Andy Warhol was rooted in professional and artistic admiration, though both shared a Pennsylvania heritage. Warhol’s deep interest in celebrity culture led him to create multiple works featuring Kelly, portraying her iconic beauty through his Pop Art lens. Like his renowned portraits of Marilyn Monroe and Elizabeth Taylor 20 years before, Warhol’s depiction of Kelly celebrates Hollywood glamour, cementing her status as a cultural icon.
The Grace Kelly portrait is a color screen print on Lenox Museum Board, hand-signed by Warhol in pencil on the lower right. The edition additionally includes 30 artist's proofs, 8 printer's proofs, 2 hors commerce prints, 50 prints numbered in Roman numerals and 20 trial proofs. Printed by Rupert Jasen Smith in New York and published by the Institute of Contemporary Art at the University of Pennsylvania, this piece reflects Warhol's enduring admiration for Grace Kelly’s beauty and legacy.
