Andy Warhol’s Orangutan (F. & S. II.299) is one of ten screenprints from his 1983 Endangered Species portfolio—a powerful series created to raise awareness about animals threatened with extinction. Commissioned by environmental activists and close friends Ronald and Frayda Feldman, this portfolio reflects Warhol’s rare engagement with ecological and social issues.
In this work, Warhol depicts the orangutan—a critically endangered great ape native to the rainforests of Borneo and Sumatra—with his signature Pop Art style. The image is bold and vibrant, using high-contrast colors and layered inks to give the animal a striking presence. Bright oranges, greens, and purples dominate the composition, giving the orangutan an almost human-like expressiveness.
Warhol treats the orangutan with the same reverence and aesthetic intensity he applied to celebrities like Marilyn Monroe and Elvis Presley. By doing so, he elevates the animal to icon status, drawing attention to its beauty and fragility. The use of vibrant, unnatural colors serves both as an artistic device and a metaphor for how out of place these animals are becoming in a human-dominated world.
Orangutan (F. & S. II.299) is not just a celebration of wildlife, but also a subtle critique of environmental neglect. Through this series, Warhol reminds viewers that endangered animals are part of our shared world—and that their survival is inextricably linked to our own choices.