The Andy Warhol Foundation Reaches $3Million with New Democratic Sales Initiative

The Andy Warhol Foundation, working with eBay for Charity, has achieved a milestone of over $3 million from the sale of more than 750 original Warhol works.

printed material, and vintage posters and books originating from the estate of Andy Warhol to 329 unique buyers in 20 countries around the globe. With an average price of $3,787, this initiative establishes a new, global, and democratic source for discerning Warhol collectors of all budgets. Proceeds from the online sales generously contribute to the Foundation’s philanthropic mission to support a diverse range of artistic practices, having most recently announced a semi-annual distribution of over $4M in grants to 48 visual arts organizations.

The ongoing online sales offer items available for immediate purchase, as well as monthly online auctions of select materials from the Foundation’s collection. To commemorate the $3M milestone, the Foundation will present a curated online eBay auction—its largest to date—entitled Andy Warhol: Social Network, celebrating the talented, influential, and extraordinary people who were part of Warhol’s rotating social circle. The 50-lot auction, now open through April 3rd, includes original Polaroids, black and white photographs, prints, and vintage posters featuring dozens of notable subjects including Jean Michel Basquiat, Mick Jagger, Debbie Harry, Diane von Furstenberg, Candy Darling, and many others. Starting bids ranging from $500 to $24,000 provide unprecedented access to incredible works originating from the artist’s estate to a diverse audience of buyers worldwide. All works are accompanied by a certificate of provenance issued by Matchfire, the firm that manages eBay for Charity sales on behalf of the Foundation.

“Warhol remains one of the most influential artists not only through the enduring impact of his life and work but also through the philanthropy of the foundation he established,” said Michael Dayton Hermann, Director of Licensing, Marketing, and Sales at the Foundation. “This initiative has proven demand from global collectors of all budgets to purchase with ease and with purpose by utilizing a democratic platform while directly supporting the advancement of the visual arts.”

The photographic medium was central to Warhol’s practice and remains an important part of understanding his artistic and philanthropic legacy. “Photography was Andy Warhol’s secret weapon — the architecture of his oeuvre.” –New York Times, January 14, 2020. While many think of Warhol’s Factory as a place where art was mass produced, it was also a place where people from all walks of society gathered not just to see Warhol, but to see each other. “’Andy Warhol: Social Network’ honors the idea of community and coming together through the individuals depicted, the accessibility of the global platform, and the extensive reach of the foundation’s grantmaking,” added Hermann. The sale is accompanied by a digital catalog including brief biographies of the subjects.