Andy Warhol’s Marilyn Portrait Sells For A Record Setting $195 Million At Christie’s

  • 10 May '22
  • 1:30 pm by Nuriyah Johar

An iconic Andy Warhol portrait of Marilyn Monroe was sold for a staggering $195 million at the Christie’s Auction House in New York City. The sale sets a record for 20th century works of art, and also marks the second highest price for any artwork sold at an auction. Titled Shot Sage Blue Marilyn, the artwork is a 3-foot square silk-screen print from 1964. The painting was the final lot of Christie’s single-owner evening sale The Collection of Thomas and Doris Ammann, which featured 36 lots and totaled $317.8 million.

Warhol’s portraits of the actress are synonymous with pop art as we know it today, which justifies Christie’s high expectations for the piece. According to Alex Rotter, Christie’s Chairman of 20th and 21st Century Art, “Tonight was a historic night for Christie’s and for the entire contemporary art market. The record-breaking sale of Warhol’s iconic portrait of Marilyn from the Collection of Thomas and Doris Ammann is a testament to the strength, the vibrancy, and the overall excitement of the art market today. This sale demonstrates the pervasive power of Andy Warhol as well as the lasting legacy that he continues to leave behind in the art world, popular culture, and society.”

The sale attracted participation from bidders across 29 countries, with 68% of lots selling above the high estimate. Proceeds from the entire sale will be donated by the Thomas and Doris Ammann Foundation to benefit charities providing urgent medical and educational services to children.