Title: Orangutan 299
Medium: Screenprint on Lenox Museum Board
Size: 38” x 38”
Year: 1983
Details: Edition of 150, signed and numbered in pencil lower right. Portfolio of 10.

Andy Warhol created Orangutan 299 in 1983 for his Endangered Species portfolio. His friends, Ron and Freyda Feldman, commissioned Warhol to create the portfolio to raise public environmental awareness. Both Ron and Fredya were celebrated philanthropists and political activists. Orangutan is a close up image of the primate’s face made up in Andy’s signature pop art style. Warhol chose to create the Orangutan in vibrant shades of yellow, with bright blue and green outlines to accent the animal’s features. The orangutan’s light blue eyes are emphasized with black detail and circled with a tan outline, creating a sharp contrast to its yellow face and effectively begging for the viewer’s sympathy and attention. In addition to Orangutan, the Endangered Species portfolio includes Giant Panda, Grevy’s Zebra, Bighorn Ram, Black Rhinoceros, San Francisco Silverspot Butterfly, Pine Barrens Tree Frog, African Elephant, Bald Eagle, and Siberian Tiger. Andy Warhol affectionately referred to Orangutan and the rest of his Endangered Species as his “animals in make up” due to the vibrant pop art colors he chose.