You can be as passionate about art as you can be about sports! Imagine a world where both these passions come together! A world like this exists and it’s called Andy Warhol’s “Athletes” series.
The series completed between 1977 and 1979, was commissioned by businessman Richard L. Weisman. Christie’s is set to sell a selection of works from the collection that features iconic sports legends right from Muhammad Ali at the top to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Pelé, and Chris Evert. Did you know in 2009, the “Athletes” works gained a reputation when 10 of them were stolen from Weisman’s Los Angeles home? Weisman thankfully got them back and now the series is expected to bring in at least $15 million in all.
The works in the series are multi-colored acrylic and silkscreen on canvas images of iconic sports stars from Muhammad Ali who is still reigning at the top and expected to rake in the highest at $4 million to $6 million—to football star O. J. Simpson and figure skater Dorothy Hamill, which each carry an estimate of $250,000 to $350,000.
Weisman’s eclectic collection at Christie’s also includes pieces by Roy Lichtenstein, Norman Rockwell and Alberto Giacometti. Andy Warhol’s Portraits of Athletes to Hit the Block at Christie’s this November.
Source: Luxury Launches
