Absolut celebrates rediscovered 1985 Andy Warhol painting with limited-edition bottle

Absolut has launched a limited-edition bottle in collaboration with The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts inspired by the rediscovery of Warhol’s Absolut ‘blue’ painting. Now on Australian shelves, the new bottle, which embodies the power of expression and progression through art, comes almost 40 years after Absolut Vodka first collaborated with the American artist.

Absolut has always believed that art has the power to unite people beyond differences. It’s a belief that can be traced to 1985 when Andy Warhol became the first artist to create artwork based on the silhouette of Absolut’s apothecary-inspired bottle. The artist’s original ‘Absolut Warhol’ – the Absolut bottle painted with vibrant colours on a black background – is considered iconic. For decades, a second Absolut Warhol painting had been rumoured to exist, but such whispers remained unconfirmed until Absolut ‘blue’ was rediscovered at auction in 2020. In proving its provenance, the original contract was unearthed, confirming two paintings had indeed been commissioned. Now part of the Absolut Art Collection, the painting will be unveiled at Stockholm’s Spritmuseum on 17th October 2024 as the centrepiece of a new exhibition, Andy Warhol, Money On The Wall, curated by renowned art historian and Warhol biographer, Dr Blake Gopnik.

Warhol’s artistic legacy continues to transcend cultural and societal boundaries to this day, allowing a medium through which people from all different walks of life can unite, sparking conversations that challenge the norm. Through the collaboration with The Andy Warhol Foundation, Absolut is paying tribute to the rediscovered Warhol Absolut ‘blue’ painting and, by revitalising the original partnership, emphasising the transformative power of creativity through art.