Star Wars Painting sells for Record-Breaking $3.875 Million
A painting tied to the inception of the Star Wars series has hit a new milestone at auction, capturing the fascination of art enthusiasts and fans worldwide.
This original painting, which first unveiled Star Wars to audiences nearly fifty years ago, has sold for $3.875 million at Heritage Auctions, ranking among the highest price tags ever affixed to movie-related artworks.
Painted byTom Jung, the artwork burst onto the scene in newspapers on May 13, 1977 — just days ahead of George Lucas' revolutionary space saga premiere. This iconic piece quickly became synonymous with the film.
Charles Epting, director of pop culture at Heritage Auctions, said: "The painting represents a pivotal cultural moment that forged early connections with a universe that would later explode in popularity."
This artwork was treasured for years by producer Gary Kurtz, who showcased it in his office before passing it to his daughter. The family opted to auction it at Heritage Auctions’ Dallas location, where bidding commenced at $1 million and rapidly ascended to its closing price. The identity of the buyer remains confidential.
This auction not only set a benchmark for Star Wars collectibles but also established a new peak for movie poster sales overall. Previously, the record-holder among collectible franchises was Darth Vader’s lightsaber, sold for $3.6 million.
The painting is a captivating visual, portraying impactful scenes from the original film. One side features Luke Skywalker with his lightsaber while Princess Leia stands beside him, and a formidable Darth Vader casts a shadow in the backdrop. The other side showcases a fleet of X-wing starfighters preparing for battle, along with Luke and Han Solo receiving their medals. Interestingly, R2-D2 and C-3PO were incorporated into later iterations, missing from earlier versions.