Andy Warhol’s famous ‘One Dollar Bill’ artwork was put up for auction on Wednesday night at Sotheby’s in London. The six-foot wide painting was created by the pop artist in 1962 before he discovered the silk-screen technique that made him world-renowned as an artist. The painting was the result of one of Warhol’s friends telling him to paint ‘what he loved most’ and was originally owned by Warhol’s business manager Frederick Hughes.
The English auction house achieved a record when the painting fetched £20.9 million ($32.8 million), topping an estimate of £13-18 million. Alex Branczik, Sotheby’s head of contemporary art commented: ‘We reached new heights at Sotheby’s tonight with the highest total we’ve ever achieved for contemporary art in London. Bidders from across the globe were drawn to Warhol works that ripped up the rule book for 20th-century art… Tonight’s achievements affirm the pivotal position of London within the international art market.’
