Andy Warhol’s Flowers for Tacoma

November 3, 2012 – February 10, 2013

In 1982, Tacoma almost had its very own Warhol original…and it was going to be larger than life.

In celebration of the 30th anniversary of Warhol’s proposal for Tacoma, the artist’s flowers and vision for the Dome are coming to Tacoma Art Museum.

Flowers for Tacoma reveals a softer, more intimate side of the artist and captures Warhol’s fascination with the fragility and beauty of flowers through more than 100 of the icon’s lithographs, screen prints, sketches, and paintings, including his original submission for the Tacoma Dome.

Best known for his vibrant pop imagery and searing commentary on art and popular culture, Warhol’s flower imagery reveals a softer, more intimate side of the artist. These works capture Warhol’s explorations of fragility, vibrancy, femininity, sensuality, and beauty.

Flowers for Tacoma exemplifies the nature of pop art, where something commonplace—like a flower—is transformed into art. Exhibition highlights include Warhol’s audacious floral proposal for the Tacoma Dome consisting of a brightly colored flower that would have covered the Dome, as well as paintings, studio photographs, and almost a dozen screen prints from his vibrant Flower series, which is based on a photograph of hibiscus flowers by Patricia Caulfield. The exhibition traces Warhol’s ongoing interest in floral imagery from the early 1950s through 1986.

Flowers for Tacoma will further cultivate art and culture by raising awareness about Warhol’s proposal and the growing interest in realizing his vision. Advocates of the project, known as Citizens to Install Andy Warhol’s Flower on Tacoma Dome, are trying to raise awareness about the significance of Warhol’s proposition and the opportunity it provides for Tacoma. Learn more about this community based group through their facebook page.