Arts & Entertainment

PA Native Andy Warhol's Marilyn Monroe Portrait Sells For Record Price

Andy Warhol's iconic portrait of the superstar actress fetched an unbelievable amount at an auction this week.

The 1964 painting Shot Sage Blue Marilyn by Andy Warhol is carried in Christie's showroom in New York City on Sunday, May 8, 2022.
The 1964 painting Shot Sage Blue Marilyn by Andy Warhol is carried in Christie's showroom in New York City on Sunday, May 8, 2022. ( (AP Photo/Ted Shaffrey))

PITTSBURGH, PA — A portrait by Pittsburgh native Andy Warhol of Marilyn Monroe was sold at a record-setting amount that comes close to the construction cost of a baseball stadium.

Warhol's "Shot Sage Blue Marilyn" was auctioned in New York for $195 million, the highest price ever for an American piece of art. PNC Park, the home of the Pittsburgh Pirates that opened in 2001, cost $216 million to build.

Who bought the iconic portrait? Bloomberg reports the purchaser was Larry Gagosian, 77, one of the world's most well-known art dealers who operates 19 exhibition spaces worldwide.

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Warhol, whose museum attracts thousands of people to Pittsburgh annually, died in 1987. But he recently made headlines when the U.S. Supreme Court decided to determine whether he violated copyright laws when he created a series of silkscreens of the late musician Prince.

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