Warhol’s Marilyn portrait sells for world record $195m
Silk-screen of Hollywood screen icon beats record set for 20th-century work by Picasso’s Women of Algiers in 2015. It sold for exactly $195.04 million, including fees, in just four minutes in a crowded room at Christie’s headquarters in New York on Monday. Its estimate was $200m. “‘Shot Sage Blue Marilyn’ is the absolute pinnacle of American Pop,” Alex Rotter, chairman of 20th and 21st Century art at Christie’s, said in a statement announcing the auction. “The painting transcends the genre of portraiture, superseding 20th century art and culture.” The sale beat the previous record for a 20th-century work, Pablo Picasso’s Women of Algiers , which sold for $179.4m in 2015. Warhol based the work on a promotional photo of Monroe from the 1953 film Niagara, laying bright colours over her eyes, hair and lips. Warhol died in 1987. news news news news news news news news news news news news news news news news news news news news news news news news news news ne