Warhol's 'Marilyn' auction nabs US$195mil; most for US artist

An iconic portrait of Marilyn Monroe by American pop art visionary Andy Warhol titled 'Shot Sage Blue Marilyn' went under the hammer for a record US$195mil on May 9 at Christie's, becoming the most expensive 20th century artwork ever sold at public auction. Photo: AFP

Andy Warhol's "Shot Sage Blue Marilyn” sold for a cool US$195mil (RM854mil) on Monday, making the iconic portrait of Marilyn Monroe the most expensive work by a US artist ever sold at auction.

The 1964 silkscreen image shows Monroe in vibrant close-up - hair yellow, eyeshadow blue and lips red - on a rich blue background. It's also the most expensive piece from the 20th century ever auctioned, according to Christie’s auction house in New York, where the sale took place.