Cowboys and Indians

Andy Warhol, fascinated by icons of American culture, released a portfolio of “Cowboys and Indians” in 1986. The 10 prints in the series portray a fantasy of the American West, mixing together historical figures and mass media interpretations of the past. Portraits in the series include actor John Wayne, sharpshooter Annie Oakley, President Teddy Roosevelt, Apache leader Geronimo, and military general George Custer. To create the Native American-inspired prints, Warhol traveled to New York City’s National Museum of the American Indian to photograph a Plains Indian shield, Northwestern Coast mask, and kachina dolls, which he later transformed into his signature technicolor silkscreens. Released in 1986, this portfolio is one of the last major series the artist completed before his death in 1987.