Banana

This bright yellow banana is one of Andy Warhol's most famous images, and it has a surprising origin story. Warhol created it in 1967 for the cover of an album by The Velvet Underground and Nico, a rock band he managed at the time. On the original album cover, the banana came as a sticker that fans could peel back to reveal a pink fruit underneath, along with the cheeky invitation to "peel slowly and see." It was playful, a little bit naughty, and very much in the spirit of the wild art and music scene Warhol surrounded himself with.

Like much of Warhol's Pop Art, the banana takes an everyday object and turns it into something worth a second look. He had a knack for finding interest in ordinary things, from soup cans to soda bottles, and this simple fruit fits right into that world. The bold yellow color and stark black shading give it a punchy, graphic feel that still looks fresh today. Over the years, this humble banana has become a symbol of an entire era, tying together Warhol's love of art, music, and the bold visual language that made him a household name.