Andy Warhol and Keith Haring in the 1980s.
Was there ever a more happening art space than New York City in the '80s? Andy Warhol, Keith Haring, Christo and more. It was a golden era of expression and exploration both on and off the canvas, and come May 12, you can grab a piece of that legacy in a special auction by Guernsey’s.
“Urban Gems" is set to sell some iconic pieces, from Haring's graffiti-tagged refrigerator door to Warhol's famous taxidermy moose head, as well as conceptual mixed-media works of art by Christo and others.
The refrigerator door was a beloved possession of Haring's, who used it as a guest register in his apartment. The artist’s SoHo home was a hub for the NYC scene, full of the colorful works and dancing characters that were Haring's signature. The door has been expertly preserved and boasts signature by Jean-Michel Basquiat and Madonna, among others—82 tags in total. The door is also covered in Haring’s own writing and art.
See also: How 'Immersive Van Gogh' Puts You Inside the Paintings and the Artist's Mind
Not to be outdone, the king of pop art himself is up for the taking. Warhol’s statuesque-mounted moose head, as pictured with the artist in a 2018 New York Times article, will be sold with a portion of the proceeds going to support the ASPCA.
Works of art from Christo have also drawn attention from collectors. Famous for his large-scale, site-specific installations, Christo's 23-mile long exhibition The Gates used Central Park as a canvas. Some 20 years later, Christo incorporated parts of The Gates fabric to compose conceptual mixed-media works, and one such piece is on the bidding block, as is Christo's own annotated map of the Park.
Add to the list a 1933 Rolls Royce Shooting Brake, one of the rarest cars ever to be made, and you've got yourself an enviable collection.
Bidding for "Urban Gems" opens Wednesday, May 12, at 3 p.m. EST via Liveauctioneers.com, and Invaluable.com. Bids may be placed online or over the phone at 212-794-2280. See pictures of the auction items below and learn more via guernseys.com.
Photography by: Ron Galella / Courtesy Guernsey’s
