Warhol Portrait Auctions for 38.4MM: Market Perspective For Collectors

Warhol_Christies_38MM

New York, NY – May 12, 2011 — Last night, a four panel (40″X32″ collectively) self-portrait of Andy Warhol auctioned at Christie’s for $38.4 Million Dollars. This, of course, is an impressive sum for a piece of art. In fact, to put this in perspective, here is a Warholian chart outlining what you could get for this one painting (click image to enlarge):

Warholian Pricing Comparison Chart by Borbay

That’s right. Own one Warhol portrait, or sit down for 153,600 steak dinners for two at Peter Luger’s; buy 2,560 Pro Sub-Zero Fridges; put 480 Porsche 911’s in the garage; or settle-down in an apartment nearly 8 times more grandiose than Jennifer Aniston’s West Village Penthouse.

Now, let’s look at this price in context with several new and emerging artists, including yours truly. An eventual multi-million dollar payday for a piece of art is about as likely as winning more than $100,000 in the lottery. You should always buy art like you would buy an apartment; choose it because you like it and want to live with/in it.

I’m not saying you shouldn’t bust out the Monty Burns finger-tenting in private, because hey, you never know who will blow-up (in the hip-hop, not explosive sense of the word).

I digress. Now, on to the work and juicy, juicy pricing details; all pieces listed below are currently available (except for Milroy’s portrait if Kianga).

JAKE NELSON, Brooklyn, NY

Jake Nelson Self Portrait

Title: Self Portrait | Size: 9″X12″ | Medium: India Ink on paper | Price: $300.00

JOSS PARKER, Columbus, OH

Neon Stardust Triptych by Joss Parker

Title: Neon Stardust Triptych | Size: 45″x48″x2″ | Medium: Spray Paint on Canvas | Price: $1,250.00

PAUL ZEPEDA, New York, NY

Zepeda Oil on Canvas 20x30 50

Title: Solo | Size: 20″X30″ | Medium: Oil on Canvas | Price: $1,350.00

TOM HESSEL, Minneapolis, MN

Portrait of the Artist - Graphite Drawing 9x12 | Tom Hessel

Title: Portrait of the Artist | Size: 9″X12″ | Medium: Graphite on Paper | Price: $1,500.00

ARI LANKIN, New York, NY

Ari Lankin Self Portrait

Title: Self Portrait in the Studio | Size: 24″X36″ | Medium: Oil on Canvas | Price: $1,800.00

MARK MILROY, New York, NY

KiangaEllis Mark Milroy Portrait

Title: Untitled (Portrait of Kianga) | Size: 24″X36″ | Price: $5,000-$8,000 in 2004

BORBAY, New York, NY

Portrait by Borbay

Title: Portrait of the Artist as a Not So Young Man | Size: 36″X48″ | Medium: Collage and Acrylic on Canvas | Price: $7,000.00

JEREMY PENN, New York, NY

Jeremy Penn Bardot in Blue

Title: Bardot in Blue | Size: 47″X60″ | Medium: Oil on Panel | Price: $11,000.00

If you have any questions about this article or the artists featured herein, please contact me directly. Comments are always encouraged.

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