Dennis Hopper Shot Chairman Mao – Warhol Results At Christie’s

Appropriation Warhol Mao Photo © Artlyst

Christie’s NY has offered a 1967 Warhol screen print of Marilyn Monroe in purple, yellow, and orange tones on a shocking pink background, with a presale estimate of $40,000-60,000. It fetched $206.500 four times the estimate.

A further print with a more historically important background was sold alongside it. This was, a 1972 Warhol screen print of Mao which was estimated at $20,000-30,000. It came from the estate of Actor Dennis Hopper who shot two bullets through the print (if legend is to be believed) The antidote was reported by Alex Hitz a close friend of Hopper. “In the shadows, Dennis, out of the corner of his eyes, saw the Mao and he was so spooked by it that he got up and shot at it, twice, putting two bullet holes in it. Hinz, a trustee of the Hopper estate, stated, “Andy saw it, loved it and annotated those holes.” What did Warhol label the high-calibre punctures? “Warning shot” and “bullet hole,”.The print also offered by Christie’s sold on 12 January for $302.500 over ten times the high estimate.

There is no stopping the rise and rise of Warhol’s prices. A red self-portrait from 1967 which has never been on the market will go on display at Christie’s in London prior to its sale in February. It carries an estimate of £5,000,000 but is expected to go much higher.

 

 

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