Title: San Francisco Silverspot 298
Medium: Screenprint on Lenox Museum Board
Year: 1983
Size: 38″ x 38″
Edition: Edition of 150, signed and numbered in pencil. Portfolio of 10.

Andy Warhol created the San Francisco Silverspot as one of ten prints in his Endangered Species portfolio. The Silverspot is a species of butterfly that can only be found in Bay Area cities, like San Francisco, Oakland, and Berkeley. The butterfly is known for the silver markings underneath its wings. The butterfly entered the endangered species list because the fields it inhabits are dwindling due to the suburbanization of the Bay Area. In this print, Warhol makes a pop icon out of the Silverspot butterfly with his use of bright primary colors and bold lines. The Silverspot butterfly is depicted with bright hues of blue, yellow, and red upon a background of royal purple with lilac blades of grass. The Endangered Species portfolio was commissioned by Ron and Freyda Feldman, who were active philanthropists, to raise awareness of endangered animals. This print is favored among collectors for the bold color choices and the message behind the portfolio.