James Ardis

Auction Preview Assignment Type of Article Auction Title Auction House Location Type of Auction Time Online Auction Link PR-232 Premium Bent. Sotheby’s NY, USA Live June 27, 2019 09:00AM CDT https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2019/bent AuctionDaily Preview: The first gay pride event was a riot. On June 28th, 1969, violent demonstrations broke out in New York City after a police raid of a popular gay bar, the Stonewall Inn. To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the groundbreaking Stonewall Riots, ​Sotheby’s​ is offering Bent., an auction whose lots represent the experience of lesbian, gay, and genderqueer people from the 19th century to present. The auction primarily consists of paintings, photographs, and manuscripts. The most notable book in the auction is an 1867 copy of Walt Whitman’s​ Leaves of Grass​. Often considered to be the father of American poetry, Whitman’s ​Leaves of Grass ​was not only one of America’s first major contributions to poetry but also a distinctly queer text that inspired major literary figures such as Allen Ginsberg. Speaking of Allen Ginsberg, a portrait of his life partner, Peter Orlovsky, is also among the lots with the highest estimated value in this auction. Orlovsky and Allen Ginsberg were foundational figures of the Beat Generation and this painting, a fully nude portrait by Robert Lavigne, is a reminder of the pride and lack of inhibitions that made the Beats distinct. Andy Warhol, a leading figure in the Pop Art movement and another LGBTQ icon, is also represented in this auction with several pieces. This includes a negative for a piece called “Self-Defense”, a satire of over-the-top advertising. Among the photography with the highest estimated value is Catherine Opie’s “Dyke”. Part of a larger series titled ​Portraits​ -), this is a showcase of the tattoos, earrings, and body types of the LGBT community. Those interested in any of these pieces can register to bid on ​Sotheby’s website​. Lot Categories: 19th Century Paintings (4), American Painting (5), Books and Manuscripts (45), Contemporary Art (19), Impressionist/Modern (9), Photographs (30), PRINTS-OM.19 & MOD (5) Number of Lots: 117 Price Range: Bids starting at USD $200 to $110,000 and estimates are from $500 to $200,000. Feature Lots: Item Link and Details ROBERT LAVIGNE | NUDE WITH ONIONS (PETER ORLOVSKY) Pricing WALT WHITMAN | LEAVES OF GRASS. NEW YORK: 1867 Estimate: USD $150,000-$200,000 Estimate: USD $150,000-$170,000 Starting bid: USD $110,000 Starting Bid: USD $110,000 ANDY Estimate: USD $80,000-$120,000 WARHOL | SELF-DEFEN Starting Bid: $60,000 SE (NEGATIVE) CATHERINE OPIE | DYKE Estimate: USD $20,000-$30,000 Starting Bid: USD $14,000 LEONOR FINI | NARCISSE INCOMPAR ABLE Estimate: USD $60,000-$80,000 Starting Bid: USD $42,000 Register to bid: https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2019/bent Contact Info: 1334 York Avenue New York, New York--About Sotheby’s Sotheby’s was founded in 1744 and became the first international auction house with its expansion from London into New York in 1955. They now have ten salerooms, including New York, London, Hong Kong and Paris. They have 80 offices in 40 different companies and are the oldest company listed on the New York Stock Exchange (BID). Tags (Keywords): Sotheby’s, LGBTQ, Gay Rights, Feminism, Pride Month, Surrealism, Pop Art, Beat Generation, Walt Whitman, Allen Ginsberg, Andy Warhol, Peter Orlovsky, Leaves of Grass, Catherine Opie, Leonor Fini,