Andy Warhol Art Could Fetch US$12-16 Million

A fourteen feet tall piece of art, made by Andy Warhol on the occasion of automobile’s centenary, could command as much as US$ 12 to 16 million. The Mercedes-Benz W 196 R Grand Prix Car, produced in 1986, was among his last works, before he died in 1987.

This Andy Warhol Art, Tour de force illustrates Mercedes-Benz W196 R Grand Prix Car (streamlined version 1954). The car finds itself painted 12 times, on black canvas area 4076 x 4575 cms. Cars are seen floating in the painting. This repetition process is a signature style of several works by Warhol such as Campbell’s Soup Cans or the Marilyn portraits.

Mercedes-Benz W196 R Grand Prix Car won 9 races between 1954-55.

The Daimler Company, maker of Mercedes Benz started an interesting art collection, over 30 years ago. There are about 2000 works of art by over 700 international artists in this collection.

Andy Warhol’s several ‘Pop Art’ paintings lead the era of modern and contemporary art in 1960s. He coined the widely used expression “15 minutes of fame”.  Eight Elvises, one of Warhol’s most famous creation sold for a whopping US$100 million. The canvas was painted in 1963.

Proceeds from the sale of Andy Warhol Art Mercedes-Benz W 196 R Grand Prix Car (Streamlined version, 1954), will be used to develop Daimler Art Collection’s, further. It will be auctioned by Christie’s New York as part of  Post-War and Contemporary Art, Evening Sale.

*Image: Christie’s