Warhol first met Beuys in 1979 at an art opening in Düsseldorf, Germany. Mere moments after meeting Beuys, Warhol asked to photograph him. Perhaps because of the public setting, Warhol only took one shot of Beuys, rather than his typical multitude of poses per subject (like the Polaroids of artist Sandro Chia in the center case). The photograph of Beuys, which served as a “sketch,” became the basis for a series of screen print portraits with many variations. Some held only a single, monochromatic image of Beuys. Others, like this one, bear Warhol’s recognizable multiplicity of brightly-colored images. In a nod to Beuys’ own preferred materials, one of which was felt, Warhol covered this portrait of the artist with rayon flocking.

Warhol’s humorous diary entry from a later encounter with Beuys demonstrates both his respect for the artist and his openness regarding what constitutes finished work of art.
Sunday, March 8, 1981 Düsseldorf—“We had breakfast with Joseph Beuys, he insisted that I come to his house and see his studio and the way he lives and have tea and cake, it was really nice. He gave me a work of art which was two bottles of effervescent water which ended up exploding in my suitcase and damaging everything I have, so I can’t open the box now, because I don’t know if it’s a work of art anymore or just broken bottles. So if he comes to New York I’ve got to get him to come sign the box because it’s just a real muck.”]]>
From the original 36 trial proofs of the Cowboys and Indians portfolio, comprised of 14 images each, Warhol chose only 10 for his final portfolio. Buffalo Nickel and Sitting Bull, seen here, were two of the four images removed. Buffalo Nickel depicts the reverse of the coin designed by sculptor James Earle Fraser and struck by the US Mint from 1913-1938. The coin was also known as the Indian Head nickel because of the profile image of a Native American seen on the coin’s face.

The Latin phrase e pluribus unum (“out of many, one”), appears on the coin and in the screen print. The motto is generally understood as representing the many states that form the United States of America or, alternately, many different people united under one flag. The phrase takes on a complicated, tragic meaning when applied to a coin that commemorates Native Americans, who suffered horrific loss of life during the late nineteenth-century American westward expansion. Likewise, the buffalo that had once been ubiquitous to the North American plains had been hunted to near extinction by the time the coin was produced.]]>
Byeri figures are known for their animated quality. They are not naturalistic, but they are dynamic; the face is often carved with a relaxed expression, while the arms and legs are active and engaged, bent as though the figure is about to leap into action. The figure is further animated by the reflective surface that vibrantly responds to light. The goal of the Byeri cult was to connect living and deceased so the Fang kept the guardian figures and relics happy and nourished with the application of camwood oil, giving the figure a reddish sheen.
]]> ]]>
This striking crest mask cannot be traced to a particular ethnic or cultural group. It displays elements reminiscent of Igbo, Idoma, Boki and Ejagham carving styles. The mask is therefore typical for the Cross River region where artists, art objects, and styles are highly mobile.]]> MCCM Permanent Collection Gallery, August 6, 2016 - Present]]> Michael C. Carlos Museum: Highlights of the Collections (Atlanta: Michael C. Carlos Museum, 2011), 103.]]>
This striking crest mask cannot be traced to a particular ethnic or cultural group. It displays elements reminiscent of Igbo, Idoma, Boki and Ejagham carving styles. The mask is therefore typical for the Cross River region where artists, art objects, and styles are highly mobile.]]> MCCM Permanent Collection Gallery, August 6, 2016 - Present]]> Michael C. Carlos Museum: Highlights of the Collections (Atlanta: Michael C. Carlos Museum, 2011), 103.]]> Image: 30 x 26 in. (76.2 x 66 cm)]]> Image: 30 x 26 in. (76.2 x 66 cm)]]>