On November 21, 1964 Castelli Gallery exhibited the Flowers series of Warhol. It was an important step for Warhol who had been longing to work with Castelli.

The series was inspired by a discussion with the curator and friend of Warhol Henry Geldzhahler in the spring of 1964. Upon a visit to the Factory, seeing the Marilyns and death series, Geldzhahler told him “Maybe it’s enough death now!” He then opened a magazine and pointed at some flowers.

The show was sold out and well received by the critics. Thomas Hess wrote in Art News that “Underneath his turtleneck disguises-white wig, black glasses, deprecating shrugs - you sense a diamond-sharp mind”

The success of the Flowers series got the attention of the photographer Patricia Caulfield who made the original shot. Even though Warhol had significantly altered it, she sued him and they reached an agreement out of court. This led 60 other photographers to protest against Warhol and it motivated him to take his own photographs.

Sources: POP, The Genius of Andy Warhol, Tony Sherman and David Dalton, 2009

Andy paints life, 2020, Acrylic on canvas, 14" x 11" (36 x 28 cm)