Rare Andy Warhol Collection Depicting "Gay Underground Culture" Hits Christie's Auction Block
Christie's auction house is selling over 100 rare photos, prints and drawings by Andy Warhol to coincide with LGBT Pride month.
The unique collection, sourced directly from the collection of the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, is titled "Andy's Randy Summer" and includes some of Warhol's lesser-known and more gay-oriented material.
Some pieces in the collection have never been shown in public before now, including photos of men undressing, nude portraits, and candid shots that showcase Warhol's "unique gaze on the LGBTQ community."
Last year, a Warhol painting of Elvis smashed a Christie's auction record when it sold for $81.9 million.
A release reads:
Throughout his career, Warhol depicted male nudes through photography or drawing, often using gay underground culture as his backdrop. His visual explorations of the complexity of sexuality and desire chronicle the momentous changes within the gay community in the late 20th century, when many young men were flocking to urban centers such as New York, San Francisco, and New Orleans from their suburban and rural hometowns.
The full "Andy's Randy Summer" collection is available to view online, where buyers can bid exclusively until the sale's end on June 25. Check out a few of the collection's best shots below:
