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Sunset 85 (Unique) by Andy Warhol is one of the most ethereal works from his Sunset series, created in 1972. In this variation, Warhol depicts a turquoise sun emerging from—or dissolving into—a violet-lavender sky. The soft gradient of purple radiates gently outward. This creates a tranquil atmosphere that contrasts with the artist’s usual fascination with celebrity and consumer imagery. As with the other works in the series, Sunset 85 transforms a simple natural phenomenon into an image of meditative abstraction and color harmony. Its quiet luminosity reflects Warhol’s ability to find serenity in repetition and precision.
Warhol’s Experimentation with Color and Light
The Sunset series began as a commission for the Hotel Marquette in Minneapolis. There, Warhol’s 472 unique screenprints were installed throughout the guest rooms and hallways. Warhol collaborated with the architecture firm Johnson & Burgee to ensure that each piece interacted naturally with the building’s light and interiors. By varying background tones and sun colors across hundreds of impressions, he transformed repetition into an exploration of difference. As a result, each version evokes a distinct mood. Some radiate warmth and optimism, while others—like Sunset 85—invite quiet reflection. Furthermore, the changing palettes, from orange and gold to blue and violet, suggest the shifting skies and emotions that accompany the passing of day into night.
The Sunset Series in Warhol’s Larger Body of Work
Created the same year as his Flowers and Marilyn portfolios, Sunset marks a contemplative phase in Warhol’s practice. Instead of exploring fame or consumerism, he turned his focus toward the purity of form, color, and atmosphere. Each screenprint functions as both image and environment—a meditation on time, transience, and repetition. Through this minimalist vision, Warhol reimagined the still life for the modern age. Sunset 85 (Unique) stands as a serene counterpoint to his more exuberant works, merging spiritual calm with mechanical precision to capture a fleeting moment that feels at once eternal and still.
