Andy Warhol’s Mao (F. & S. II.94) is the first print in his provocative 1972 Mao portfolio, which reimagines the official portrait of Chinese Communist leader Chairman Mao Zedong through the lens of Pop Art. Based on the widely circulated photograph from Mao’s Little Red Book, Warhol transforms a symbol of political power into a mass-produced cultural icon.
In this print, Mao’s face is rendered in bold, unnatural colors—often with vibrant skin tones, bright lips, and painterly overlays that contrast sharply with the original propaganda-style image. Warhol’s use of screenprinting, combined with expressive hand-drawn lines and color blocks, adds a layer of irony and satire, challenging the traditional reverence of political imagery.
By treating Mao like a pop celebrity—similar to his earlier depictions of Marilyn Monroe or Elvis Presley—Warhol explores themes of power, repetition, propaganda, and the commodification of identity. Created during the Cold War and amid growing Western interest in China, the Mao series reflects Warhol’s fascination with fame and the global circulation of images.
Mao (F. & S. II.94) sets the tone for the rest of the series, blurring the lines between political iconography and commercial art, and inviting viewers to question how meaning is shaped by presentation.