Jimmy Carter III (FS II.152)

In Jimmy Carter III (FS II.152), Andy Warhol turns his distinctive Pop Art style toward the 39th President of the United States, capturing Carter at the height of his political career. Created in 1977, during Carter’s presidency, the work reflects Warhol’s fascination with political figures as modern celebrities.
Warhol portrays Carter with a warm, approachable expression, layering bright color fields—particularly red, blue, and gold—over a photographic base image. The screenprint blends seriousness with playfulness, mirroring both the public image and the human side of the president. Hand-drawn lines trace parts of Carter’s face and hair, adding a spontaneous, almost sketch-like energy to the formal portrait.
Unlike Warhol’s earlier works that critiqued fame and media, Jimmy Carter III feels more respectful, possibly even celebratory. It was also produced as a fundraising piece for Carter’s re-election campaign, showing how Warhol's art intersected with political life not just aesthetically, but functionally.
As part of Warhol’s ongoing exploration of power, fame, and representation, this portrait of Jimmy Carter stands as a unique artifact of 1970s American culture—where politics, pop culture, and art collided.