Liz #5 (Early Colored Liz), 1963.
Andy Warhol’s portrait of Elizabeth Taylor from 1963 made a within estimate price of $26.9 million at the Phillips de Pury contemporary art sale in New York on May 12.
The silkscreen, ink and acrylic on linen – “Liz #5” – measures 40″ x 40″. It topped a 50 lot sale in which 22 per cent of lots failed to sell. This was one of 13 paintings in various colours Warhol made of Elizabeth Taylor. It had been consigned by the hedge fund manager Steven Cohen.
The sale, which brought in $98.8 million, was the second highest tally for a contemporary art sale at Phillips de Pury in New York.