Now you see him: definitive Andy Warhol portraits on show in capital

 
11 April 2014

The only complete set of the definitive late-Andy Warhol self-portraits in a spiky fright wig goes on show in London this weekend before an auction where they are expected to reach up to $35 million (£21 million).

The set of six were produced by the artist in 1986 at the suggestion of London dealer Anthony d’Offay. The works went on show at D’Offay’s London gallery — and were bought even before it opened by the current owner, who was out shopping with his wife and saw them being hung. He paid $57,500.

Warhol played with various ideas before alighting on the fright wig that is now so familiar. He produced a series of images in different sizes and colours but this is the only complete set.

Many of the other works from that exhibition are now in public collections. They acquired an added poignancy when Warhol died only months later, following routine gallbladder surgery.

The works are on show at Sotheby’s until Tuesday before sale in New York on May 14. Other modern masterpieces by Francis Bacon, Mark Rothko and Jackson Pollock are also on free public view at Christie’s this weekend prior to auction.

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