​Andy Warhol
 Better Days
CHRISTIE'S NY
28 April - 6 May
​SALE 19565​
Online|

If I had a £50 note every time I've heard the words "unprecidented times" well I might just have a deposit to put on a glorious piece of Andy Warhol's Art. Whatever you think, or think you know about Warhol, you can't ignore his incredible influence on popular culture.
In these "unprecedented times" (another nifty) famous auction house Christies is making use of technology this week, with an online auction dedicated to photographs taken by the "Master of Pop." Andy Warhol: Better Days  The event will be held in collaboration with the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, and proceeds from the auction will help support American artists affected by the coronavirus. 
I've put a few examples below. Thanks to Mutualart.com lots more info there; and of course CHRISTIE'S New York - best pp 

ANDY WARHOL (1928-1987) Self-Portrait Estimate: USD 15,000 - USD 20,000 (GBP 11,889 - GBP 15,852)

​The modestly-priced sale (estimates: $191,000 - 283,000) will feature 60 photographs taken by Warhol over a period of 15 years, between 1971 and 1986, the subjects including mainly landscapes, flowers and stones. Some of the photographs also show his Pets and a few Warhol himself. The "self-portraits" are by far the highest priced lots, Self-Portrait, 1973 — showing his hand holding the camera — being estimated at $30,000 - 50,000.

"You need to let the little things that would ordinarily bore you suddenly thrill you.”

ANDY WARHOL (1928-1987) Self-Portrait Estimate: USD 30,000 - USD 50,000 (GBP 23,778 - GBP 39,630)

​It is an unusual body of work of the mega-artist, not only because his main mediums are painting and printmaking, but also because he has come to be associated mainly with themes of mass-culture; soup cans, coca cola bottles, and personalities rendered in his distinct pop-style. Yet true to his world view, the photographs result from the same mindset Warhol used to capture his usual subject matter: "You need to let the little things that would ordinarily bore you suddenly thrill you.”

ANDY WARHOL (1928-1987) Andy Warhol and Henry Geldzahler Estimate: USD 15,000 - USD 20,000 (GBP 11,889 - GBP 15,852)

​There are of course few artists that are more lucrative than Warhol. His art sold for well over $3 billion at auction in the last 10 years. His record stems from 2013, when Silver Car Crash (Double Disaster), 1963, sold for a over $105 million. The following year his total sales value reached over $650 million. Since 2016 his totals ranged "only" between $160 million and $280 million, as the market became less willing to pay the astronomical sums of previous years, but even last May Double Elvis [Ferus Type], 1963, still sold for $53 million at Christie's. These are levels the current market — even before Covid-19 — is increasingly hesitant of paying, but whether his upcoming sale's top lot will be below $50,000 may be arguable. Looking at other auctions over the last weeks, collector's are certainly not shying away from spending higher sums. ​

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