Andy Warhol's famous painting of Marilyn Monroe just went up for auction and sold for $195 million, proving once again that some people just have more money than they know what to do with.
Yes, this is the item that brought in nearly $200 million!
I can't imagine spending this much money on anything, much less a painting of an actress.
From the AP:
Andy Warhol's "Shot Sage Blue Marilyn" sold for a cool $195 million on Monday, making the iconic portrait of Marilyn Monroe the most expensive work by a U.S. artist ever sold at auction.
The 1964 silkscreen image shows Monroe in vibrant close-up — hair yellow, eyeshadow blue and lips red — on a rich blue background. It's also the most expensive piece from the 20th century ever auctioned, according to Christie's auction house in New York, where the sale took place.
The Warhol sale unseated the previous record holder and another modern master, Jean-Michel Basquiat, whose 1982 painting "Untitled" of a skull-like face sold for a record $110.5 million at Sotheby's in 2017.
The most money anyone has ever spent on an American artwork AND the most spent on a 20th-century piece of art.
Warhol is a very popular artist, but to be frank, I don't get the appeal.
Why should I stand in awe of a strange colored painting of an actress, or soup cans, or a banana peel?
I like art, but I just don't get Warhol.
Christie's said an unnamed buyer made the purchase Monday night. When the auction was announced earlier this year, they estimated it could go for as much as $200 million.
"It's an amazing price," said Alex Rotter, chairman of Christie's 20th and 21st century art department. "Let it sink in, it's quite something."
"This is where we wanted to be, clearly," said Guillaume Cerutti, CEO of Christie's. "It proves we are in a very resilient art market."
The proceeds of the sale will go to the Thomas and Doris Ammann Foundation Zurich, which put the painting up for auction. The foundation aims to help children with health care and educational programs.
Warhol created more than one image of Monroe; this particular painting has been exhibited in museums around the world.
I just have to say, thank goodness this money is going to charity.
I'd hate to think it might be reinvested back into the art world to purchase more strange paintings.
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