
The Terminator
2018
A luminous portrait of Arnold Schwarzenegger as the iconic cyborg assassin from James Cameron's 1984 film, rendered in Sam McKinniss's signature style of lush, seductive paint handling. McKinniss bathes the figure in vivid, almost otherworldly color, transforming a still from popular cinema into something approaching classical portraiture. The work reflects the artist's ongoing fascination with celebrity, screen culture, and the strange devotional quality of our collective image-worship.
- Medium
- oil over acrylic on canvas
- Dimensions
- Signed
- Yes
- Spotted At
- Auction House · Phillips
Notes
Execution: Painted in 2018. Literature: Steph Ekardt, "Your Favorite Google Images Are Now Paintings, Thanks to the Artist Sam McKinniss," Exhibition History: Brussels, Almine Rech Gallery,
🔨 Auction Lot
Modern & Contemporary Art
February 28, 2026
Estimate: $25,000 – $35,000
Sold: $23,220
Lot 141
More by Sam McKinniss
Start the Discussion
Request access to join the discussion