Iconic Warhol Screenprint Owned By Dennis Hopper Auctioned For Ten Times Its Original Estimation!

1/13/2011 4:40 AM ET | Filed under: Wacky, Tacky & True

iconic-warhol-screenprint-owned-by-dennis-hopper-auctioned-for-ten-times-its-original-estimation

Ha! We suppose it IS truly one of a kind!

An Andy Warhol portrait of communist founder Mao Zedong (above), owned - and apparently repeatedly shot at - by Dennis Hopper sold for ten times its high estimate during an auction of the late actor's art collection at Christie's yesterday!

The 1972 screenprint was estimated to sell for $20-$30k during the two-day event, but was considered unique because of the bullet holes in it, which Hopper famously fired when he "mistook the portrait on his wall for Mao himself and shot at it."

He later showed Warhol himself what he had done, who decided to consider the work a collaboration, and then drew circles around the points of entry, labeled the hole over Mao's right shoulder a "warning shot" and the one in his left eyelid the "bullet hole."

The piece was sold yesterday for a whopping $302,500!

Wow! With a story like that, we're frankly surprised that no one expected it to sell higher than their original estimation!

Who wouldn't want something that ridiculous?!

LOLz! Hopefully now it's going to a good home!

Tags: andy warhol, auction, bullet holes, christies, collaboration, collection, communist, dennis hopper, estimate, mao zedong, portrait, rip, screenprint

Marianna Galfi says – reply to this

1

It is Mao Tse TUNG..morons!!!!
organikhispanik says – reply to this

2

Not to be a bitch, but if you expect to be taken seriously, I'd read up on some history before citing Mao as "communist founder." Thanks
caravaggio the terrible says – reply to this

3

Re: organikhispanik – Yeah, this piece of shit has killed more people than stalin and hitler combined. The Chinese love to decimate large swaps of their populations. In regards to 'the work', Andy Warhol was an overrated pop icon that sold himself rather well and did it authentically, being part a variety of performance scenes in New York City, but his work is soooooooo overrated compared to the artists coming out of Yale living in soho at that time. Chuck Close (who worked quietly from 1967 up until about 1998 when he received notoriety from his Moma retrospective. Nan Goldin. Brice Marden. RIchard Serra. These are much better choices compared to the great warhol. Warhol belongs in a cocaine fueled balcony in studio 54. Warhol is art for suckers!
LisaL79 says – reply to this

4

UGH… Warhol pieces of shit art belong in the garbage.
Scrib says – reply to this

5

Uh, this news is 3 days old. Everyone else has covered it already.

Warner Bros. Hits Back At Controversy Around Riverdale Star K.J. Apa's Car Crash

Warner Bros. is trying to cool things down after Archie's scary car crash -- and sadly this is all IRL!

Riverdale star K.J. Apa was in a pretty severe single-car accident, driving off the road after a 16-hour day, leading cast and crew to question the safety rules on the hit CW show.

How is WBTV responding to the controversy?

The studio sent a statement to Us Weekly in an effort to clear some things up about K.J.'s health, work hours, and more:

[Image via Warner Bros..]