See Artists A-Z
Space Fruit
Enlarge
© The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York / DACS, London 2009

Reference URL

Space Fruit 1979
  • Artist Rooms
A portfolio of screenprints by Warhol, bizarrely titled ‘Space Fruits’, was published in 1979. Although based on the traditional subject of still-lifes of fruit, Warhol’s fruits are treated in a distinctly non-representational manner. This image of a watermelon appears more like a meteor than something edible. This highlights his evolving interest in abstract art which developed in his work in the late seventies. He has incorporated blocks of irregularly shaped colour, which, although screenprinted, appear like collaged fragments of coloured paper. He has also combined photographic aspects with printed hand-drawn lines that, while emphasising details, add to the abstracted quality.

Glossary Open

Abstract art

Art in which there is no attempt to represent anything existing in the world, particularly used of the 20th century onwards. ‘Abstraction’ refers to the process of making images that may in part derive from the visible world but which are reduced to basic formal elements.

Collage

An image constructed from found materials, such as photographs, paper or fabric, glued to a surface, sometimes with additional painted or drawn elements. It is an art form particularly associated with Dada and Surrealism.

Portfolio

A group of art works, by one or more artists, issued or housed together in a portfolio case. This often applies to photographs or prints, and portfolios often include a title page or introductory text. The term is also used to describe a group of works which exemplify an artist's work overall.

Screenprint

A print made by forcing ink through a screen on which a stencil is placed. Traditionally used for commercial printing, it has been taken up by artists since the 1960s when it was used extensively in Pop art.

Still life

A painting, drawing or photograph depicting inanimate objects.

Abstract art, Collage, Portfolio, Screenprint, Still life

Details

  • Acc. No. AR00395
  • Medium Lithograph on paper
  • Size 70.60 x 55.70 cm (framed: 77.50 x 62.50 x 3.80 cm)
  • Credit ARTIST ROOMS National Galleries of Scotland and Tate. Acquired jointly through The d'Offay Donation with assistance from the National Heritage Memorial Fund and the Art Fund 2008

See related artworks

Part of

Artist Rooms

Play