For some reason I never had Andy Warhol pegged as a big celebrator of Christmas, but it turns out that the famously phlegmatic artist liked to put on a Santa hat and a novelty jumper and lark about with his chums just like everyone else – at least before he became a bit of a rich old cynic. He wasn’t averse to spending a lot of time making presents for the special people in his life either. The story goes that author Truman Capote (Breakfast at Tiffany’s), who was a subject of fascination for Warhol, changed his mind about the artist’s prospects one Christmas when he received a shoe painted gold as a gift. Warhol was also commercially involved in Christmas for a time; he was commissioned by Tiffany & Co to produce their Christmas cards in 1956, and continued fulfilling the role until 1962. Christmas had in fact been a happy time for the young Warhol, whose childhood holidays in the 1920s were influenced by the work of Norman Rockwell – an artist that displayed a nostalgia for the seasonal cheer of the Victorian era in his illustrations for the Saturday Evening Post.
Christie’s auction house has over 100 items of Warhol Christmas memorabilia up for sale this week; the Warhol-day auction includes a Polaroid selfie of the artist with Capote, examples of his Tiffany Christmas card designs, and other drawings, photographs and ephemera. One lot, two photographs of Keith Haring dressed as Santa, display a fellow icon’s equal admiration for the festive period. The sale is being conducted online only, and bids are being taken until 12 December. Follow the link to bag an early Christmas present for you or yours.
ANDY WARHOL (1928-1987)
Christmas Tree
ink and Dr. Martin’s aniline dye on paper
10½ x 9 in. (26.7 x 22.9 cm.)
Drawn circa 1954.
© The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, Inc./
CHRISTIE’S Images Ltd. 2014
ANDY WARHOL (1928-1987)
Store Front
unique gelatin silver print
10 x 8 in. (25.4 x 20.3 cm.)
Executed circa 1980.
© The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, Inc./
CHRISTIE’S Images Ltd. 2014
ANDY WARHOL (1928-1987)
Cabbage Patch Doll
unique polaroid print
3 3/8 x 4¼ in. (8.6 x 10.8 cm.)
Executed in 1985.
© The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, Inc./
CHRISTIE’S Images Ltd. 2014
ANDY WARHOL (1928-1987)
Poinsettias (F. & S. IIIA.51)
screenprint in colors on paper, an unpublished work from
an edition of an unknown size
image: 14 5/8 x 11 1/8 in. (37.1 x 28.3 cm.);
sheet: 21½ x 15 1/8 in. (54.6 x 38.4 cm.)
Executed circa 1983.
© The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, Inc./
CHRISTIE’S Images Ltd. 2014
ANDY WARHOL (1928-1987)
Keith Haring
two unique gelatin silver prints
each: 10 x 8 in. (25.4 x 20.3 cm.)
Executed circa 1984.
© The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, Inc./
CHRISTIE’S Images Ltd. 2014
ANDY WARHOL (1928-1987)
Christmas Tree
ink on tracing paper
23¼ x 19 in. (59.1 x 48.3 cm.)
Drawn circa 1956.
© The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, Inc./
CHRISTIE’S Images Ltd. 2014
ANDY WARHOL (1928-1987)
The Last Supper
four unique polaroid prints
three: 4¼ x 3 3/8 in. (10.8 x 8.6 cm.);
one: 3 3/8 x 4¼ in. (8.6 x 10.8 cm.)
Executed in 1985.
© The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, Inc./
CHRISTIE’S Images Ltd. 2014
ANDY WARHOL (1928-1987)
Jon Gould and Andy Warhol
unique gelatin silver print
8 x 10 in. (20.3 x 25.4 cm.)
Executed circa 1980.
© The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, Inc./
CHRISTIE’S Images Ltd. 2014
ANDY WARHOL (1928-1987)
Fifteen Christmas Fairies
ink on paper
11 7/8 x 9 in. (30.2 x 22.9 cm.)
Drawn circa 1954.
© The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, Inc./
CHRISTIE’S Images Ltd. 2014
ANDY WARHOL (1928-1987)
Japanese Toy
unique polaroid print
3 3/8 x 4¼ in. (8.6 x 10.8 cm.)
Executed in 1983.
© The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, Inc./
CHRISTIE’S Images Ltd. 2014
ANDY WARHOL (1928-1987)
Untitled
unique gelatin silver print
8 x 10 in. (20.3 x 25.4 cm.)
Executed circa 1982.
© The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, Inc./
CHRISTIE’S Images Ltd. 2014
ANDY WARHOL (1928-1987)
In the Bottom of My Garden (F. & S. IV.86-105)
8 5/8 x 11 1/8 in. (22 x 29.5 cm.)
Executed circa 1956.
© The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, Inc./
CHRISTIE’S Images Ltd. 2014
