Andy Warhol.
Art by Andy Warhol, much of it never before seen in public, is be offered by Christie’s in a series of phased sales over coming years. The Andy Warhol Foundation for Visual Art has engaged Christie’s for sales of future work from its collection. The Foundation, which has made nearly $250 million in grants to museums and non profit arts organizations worldwide since 1987, wants to expand its long term support of visual arts. Christie’s will use multiple platforms, including single artist live auctions, private sales and continuing on-line auctions. Meantime the Foundation plans to make additional gifts of significant works to museums.
Around 350 paintings, drawings, photographs, prints, and printed graphic material by Andy Warhol will be offered at three single-artist live auctions on November 12, 2012. Online auctions will begin in February 2013 with private sales on an ongoing basis. Christie’s will launch a special promotional website in October. It will offer a central resource for sale-related information throughout the years of the partnership.
The Warhol estate, run by the Foundation, holds an inventory of around 350 paintings and 1,000 prints, plus drawings and photographs.