Andy Warhol’s Shot Sage Blue Marilyn has sold for record-breaking US$195 million, standing as the most expensive 20th century artwork to sell at auction.
Christie’s 20th/21st Century sale week in New York commenced on 9 May with The Collection of Thomas and Doris Ammann Evening Sale, featuring a sum of 36 lots by Andy Warhol, Mike Bidlo, Francesco Clemente and more. Garnering registered bidders across 29 countries and a virtual audience of 763,000, the auction racked up US$317.8 million — and the attention of many.
The spotlight, undoubtedly, shone upon Andy Warhol’s Shot Sage Blue Marilyn. Part of Warhol’s five 1964 Marilyns, this piece depicts Marilyn Monroe’s visage cropped from a publicity still for the 1953 film, Niagara — a showcase of flawless colour application techniques and a glimpse into the prosperous post-war America.
Regarded as the face of the American Pop Art movement, Shot Sage Blue Marilyn‘s influence transcends far beyond its motherland and time of conception. This iconic work of art is instead a categorical synonym to “classic”, the very definition of contemporary art in its essence.
The US$195 million (somewhere around HK$1.5 billion) price tag establishes it as the most expensive 20th century artwork to sell at auction, and the second most expensive artwork to sell at auction of all time, right behind Leonardo da Vinci’s Salvator Mundi which sold for US$450 million in 2017.
“Tonight was a historic night for Christie’s and for the entire contemporary art market. The record-breaking sale of Warhol’s iconic portrait of Marilyn from the Collection of Thomas and Doris Ammann is a testament to the strength, the vibrancy, and the overall excitement of the art market today. This sale demonstrates the pervasive power of Andy Warhol as well as the lasting legacy that he continues leave behind in the art world, popular culture, and society,” commented Alex Rotter, Christie’s Chairman of 20th and 21st Century Art.
Proceeds from the entire sale will be donated by the Thomas and Doris Ammann Foundation to benefit charities providing urgent medical and educational services to children.
Meanwhile, the buyer has been invited to partner with the Foundation and play an active role in fulfilling its global mission for children’s aid, with the opportunity to nominate the charities to which 20% of the work’s proceeds will be allocated, subject to the Foundation’s final approval.
Christie’s Post-War and Contemporary Art Day Sale and The Collection of Thomas and Doris Ammann Day Sale will take place in New York on 13 May, headlining 20th century masters such as Wayne Thiebaud, Roy Lichtenstein, Andy Warhol, and 21st century avant-garde icons ranging from Jeff Koons, Jack Whitten, Shara Hughes to Nicolas Party.
Take a virtual tour of the auction highlights here and sign up to bid today on the Christie’s homepage.
Hero Image: Christie’s
Speaking of artistic matters, see what Art Central 2022 has in store for you from Thursday 26 May to Sunday 29 May.
Michelle Chan
Editor
A girl who got one (1) nostril piercing and let it dictate her entire style journey. Email me anything interesting!
