Andy Warhol Foundation teams up with Christie’s to sell and donate artist’s works

New York, NY, United States (4E) – In an effort to boost resources in support of the arts, the Andy Warhol Foundation has teamed up with Christie’s New York to sell and donate the famed artist’s work.

The AWF and Christie’s has signed on to a long-term deal to promote and market Andy Warhol’s works using various measures. A joint statement read, “Christie’s will conduct phased sales over a period of years using multiple platforms, including single artist live auctions, private sales and continuing online auctions, bringing a wide range of Warhol’s art – much of which has never before been seen by the public at large – to existing as well as new collectors worldwide.”

“For a quarter of a century, the Foundation has carefully honored and preserved the artistic legacy of Andy Warhol by pursuing the mission laid out by him – to advance the visual arts,” said Michael Straus, Chairman of the Board of The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts.

He continued, “Christie’s enthusiasm for this endeavor, its deep experience with Warhol’s work, and its spirit of innovation all combine to make it the ideal partner for this venture.” This endeavor also marks the 25th year of the Warhol Foundation.

Meanwhile, Steven Murphy, Christie’s Chief Executive Officer, is honored that the Warhol Foundation has chosen Christie’s to pursue this goal. In a statement he said, “We believe the multifaceted program we have developed for this collaboration will make these sales a model of creating awareness and access in this new day in the art market. By engaging with collectors across the three mediums of auction, private sale and online, this program will bring the work of Andy Warhol both to those who already acquire masterpieces and to new audiences anywhere and everywhere in the world who never before imagined they could own a Warhol.”

Aside from achieving a boost in resources and support, Joel Wachs, President of The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, added, “These sales will provide unprecedented global access to Andy Warhol’s work, in keeping with the artist’s own democratizing philosophy and working methods. The gifts we will make to museums along with the enhanced grant-making made possible by the art sales, when taken together, will underscore Warhol’s legacy and impact on the art world and will provide an even more secure basis to expand that philanthropy in the future.”

The first leg of auctions will ensue in November this year while online auctions are set to begin in February 2013. Private sales will be ongoing.

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