Andy Warhol Still In Demand As “Surprise” Work Is Auctioned By English

By Thomas Leturgey

On Saturday, January 25, the Atlanta, Georgia-based “Fine Art Auction” gave collectors a unique, “surprise” opportunity to land an artist-proof original screen print in colors of the Andy Warhol’s titled “Watermelon.”

For fans of Warhol and fine art—and the Steelers out of the NFL playoffs—this was as exciting as a Saturday Night gets.

Long-time host Richard English started the program—which until quite recently was available on Verizon in the greater Pittsburgh area (it is watched on YouTube, Facebook and Roku among other outlets—by explaining the 56w x 47h work would only be auctioned off if there was a significant interest from the audience. “We are looking for a $10,000 minimum,” said the British Saturday and Monday host (Friday and Sunday co-host with another veteran Ray Taylor).

English explained that this “very rare,” hand-signed in pencil piece from Pittsburgh’s favorite pop artist “is a real collector’s item.” He went on to say that the piece, framed and shipped from their Peachtree Studios, could go for “$500,000 or $600,000” in another type of auction, but it wasn’t going to go for that here.

He continued to promote the impressive Warhol painting by saying it would “typically” go for between $125,000 and $175,000, and he was realistically looking for half of that amount.

Saturday co-host Mitch Carter, always present from a zoom-call from Utah, where he serves several titles, including fine art historian and ski instructor. He commented that the Warhol work had a Roman Numeral (#24) on the right-hand side, which meant it was “essentially an artist proof.” That made the piece, “really special.”

For more than 19 years, the Fine Art Auction has been a haven for art aficionados who might enjoy looking at the offerings from Marc Chagall and Pablo Picasso, but they may also bid to buy. Recently, English auctioned off a new painting by German-born Simon Roland, who’s “street” or “urban artist” name is “KeF!” That special piece was auctioned off for $33,000. The 10-percent “buyer’s premium” made from the sale was donated to the American Red Cross.

English was hoping for a similar number on the Warhol. In recent weeks, the staff at the television auction house has been underwhelmed by some of the purchases. Moments after the announcement of the work from Warhol, a superb lifetime Henri Matisse piece from 1929 entitled Le Parasol Vert sold for only $250.

Business picked up immediately for the hosts as a Romeo and Juliet engraving dated 1791 from English artist John Opie was featured. Mere moments later, it sold for $2,400 after a flurry of bidding.

After that sale, English noted that he hadn’t quite yet had a bid and pointed out the area where Warhol signed with a pencil.

A hand-colored Edgar Degas from 1920 was “way under bid,” according to Carter. It was sold for $450. English was perplexed by the late bidders the numbered at six. He then took a few minutes to help prospective buyers handle telephone etiquette.

For the casual observer, there seems to be no rhyme or reason for some of the winning bids. A hand-colored Picasso lithograph in colors from 1945 saw the hammer drop at $1,800.

English reported there were two $10,000 prospective buyers lodged for the Warhol. Carter said it was the only “Roman Numeral” edition available for sale. English wanted an opening bid at $50,000 but more realistically for television that number would be closer to $10,000.

The Walhol would be auctioned to headline the evening.

The Fine Art Auction provides a fine mix of artists, from a pair of Albert Durer works entitled “The Presentation of the Virgin in the Temple” from 1860 that walked out the door for $1,200 after deadline bidding to a Lucas Roy mixed media Disney princess-esque canvas original “If the Shoe Fits” for a tidy $700.

English was excited to announce an update that four prospective buyers were interested in the Warhol. A little later, that number sprung to six.

The Sam Francis “Uncle Sam Loves Marilyn” sold for $1,800, but the work Henri de Toulouse Lautrec had a difficult time finding an audience. It sold for $300.

Urban Artist Pure Evil, reportedly a real-life from of the elusive “Banksy,” was showcased with not one, but two copies of his “Brexit Queen,” that landed at $1,800. Sculptor Jeff Koons’ cost cast resin sculpture called “Balloon Monkey” registered at $1,100.

Before the Warhol was announced, Saturday’s show was to conclude with a lifetime Albert Durer, “Christ of the Cross.” A spectacular piece, the 500-year-old framed, monogrammed, original etching in black ink on laid paper shot up to a remarkable $15,000.

A Pierre August Renoir lithograph from 1919 was “gifted” by English at $250. One of 375 produced, “Elude de Tetes” is a small drawing at 17w by 14h.

The Fine Art Auction has noted that teenage artist Sarah Wall, the “prodigy” daughter of famed artist Daniel Wall has signed a contract, and they are selling what’s left of her in-house inventory. Wall spent two days last year in the auction studio explaining her art and apparently winning art agents’ hearts. On this day, the team had four copies of an earthy painting called “Lily.” English had initially seen bids race to $1,000, but as he does from time-to-time, stopped the bidding and offered a “buy now” price of $400 for each of the paintings.

Homme Caressant Un Femme, or “Man Caressing A Woman” is signed by Pablo Picasso. It is a lithograph in black from 1972 that rocketed to a $6,000 price tag. The transaction pleased both English and Carter.

The Friday-through-Monday auction often offers works from Salvador Dali. Host Taylor has said the Spanish painter is his favorite artist. Here Dahli’s Guardian Angels of the Valley, which was inspired by the Divine Comedy, had some auction action. However, English stopped the process and added a Marc Chagall in what he called a “Master’s Package.” Dubbed by Dahli has the “Greatest Painter,” Chagall’s lithograph Ma Vie from 1960 was included. While English would have liked a bid nearing five figures, the Saturday night crowd came in at $950.

That gave enough time for Jean Claude Novaro’s blown ovoid glass vase with multicolored emulsions from 2002. Called “the Picasso of the Glass World”—a term Carter agreed with—was given the cloth glove treatment. English hyped the piece for more but concluded the bidding at $3,200.

Then it was time for the main event. English tried to measure with a four-foot ruler and couldn’t contain the work. It was 56w by 47h. The host gave buyers about 13 minutes to rush the phones.

An exciting artist proof, the Warhol work called Watermelon from 1979 is an original screen print in colors on Lenox Museum Board with publisher’s blind stamp. The initial bid was $1,600.

“This is going to be shocking,” said Carter. He ticked off a number of examples of limited editions that have sold for millions of dollars. Bids increased to $19,000 and then $21,000. He talked about a poster of the same artwork on an auction sold for $5,000.

A bidder from California bid $22,000. It was upped to $23,000 by a New York buyer. Another bid came in at $24,000 as excitement increased.

Carter talked about Warhol’s Marilyn Monroe painting, and a Triple Elvis that sold for millions. “The most important pop artist in the world today,” he said. Carter even admitted that he hadn’t even seen a Warhol artist’s proof in the wild.

As the show was concluding, English touted bidder in the lead was from New York, Warhol’s long-time adopted home. When time ran out, a $28,000 bid was on the line. It was another winning night for Andy Warhol and art.