Mao 97
by Andy Warhol
Year: 1972
Medium: Screen print
Size: 36 x 36 in (91.44 x 91.44 cm)
Edition: 250
Signed
A defining work from Andy Warhol’s politically charged Mao series, Mao 97 (1972) recasts the portrait of China’s leader through the bold vocabulary of Pop Art and mass-media imagery. Measuring 36 × 36 inches, this signed screenprint comes from an edition of 250. Its historical significance, commanding scale, and place within Warhol’s acclaimed Mao series make it a compelling proposition for discerning collectors.
Mao 97 by Andy Warhol belongs to his landmark Mao series, first developed in 1972 after President Richard Nixon’s historic visit to China. Warhol took the official portrait of Mao Zedong and transformed it through silkscreen, repetition, vivid color, and expressive brushwork. The result shifts Mao from political leader to media icon, exploring power, propaganda, celebrity, and the machinery of mass communication. Mao 97 carries that same tension between political authority and commercial image-making.
There is no recognized street-graffiti version. Warhol created the Mao works through his studio-based screen-printing practice, within the fine-art tradition rather than the later street-art movement.
For collectors, Mao remains one of Warhol’s most important subjects. Edition size, color, condition, signature, provenance, and authenticity all influence rarity and market demand. Its strong historical context gives the series lasting importance beyond its visual appeal.
From our gallery perspective, Mao 97 demonstrates why Warhol remains so relevant. He makes a complex political figure instantly recognizable while questioning how power becomes a brand.
Artistically, it belongs to Warhol’s mature Pop period and relates closely to Marilyn Monroe, Mick Jagger, Dollar Signs, and Ladies and Gentlemen. For collectors seeking a culturally significant Warhol with enduring market appeal, Mao 97 is a compelling acquisition.
More Andy Warhol Works to Explore
Mao 97
by Andy Warhol
Year: 1972
Medium: Screen print
Size: 36 x 36 in (91.44 x 91.44 cm)
Edition: 250
A defining work from Andy Warhol’s politically charged Mao series, Mao 97 (1972) recasts the portrait of China’s leader through the bold vocabulary of Pop Art and mass-media imagery. Measuring 36 × 36 inches, this signed screenprint comes from an edition of 250. Its historical significance, commanding scale, and place within Warhol’s acclaimed Mao series make it a compelling proposition for discerning collectors.
Mao 97 by Andy Warhol belongs to his landmark Mao series, first developed in 1972 after President Richard Nixon’s historic visit to China. Warhol took the official portrait of Mao Zedong and transformed it through silkscreen, repetition, vivid color, and expressive brushwork. The result shifts Mao from political leader to media icon, exploring power, propaganda, celebrity, and the machinery of mass communication. Mao 97 carries that same tension between political authority and commercial image-making.
There is no recognized street-graffiti version. Warhol created the Mao works through his studio-based screen-printing practice, within the fine-art tradition rather than the later street-art movement.
For collectors, Mao remains one of Warhol’s most important subjects. Edition size, color, condition, signature, provenance, and authenticity all influence rarity and market demand. Its strong historical context gives the series lasting importance beyond its visual appeal.
From our gallery perspective, Mao 97 demonstrates why Warhol remains so relevant. He makes a complex political figure instantly recognizable while questioning how power becomes a brand.
Artistically, it belongs to Warhol’s mature Pop period and relates closely to Marilyn Monroe, Mick Jagger, Dollar Signs, and Ladies and Gentlemen. For collectors seeking a culturally significant Warhol with enduring market appeal, Mao 97 is a compelling acquisition.