Jim Lambie, *Careless Whisper,* 2009.
Photo: Courtesy of Christie's
George Michael’s Art Collection Fetches $15 Million for Charity
The late British singer’s blue-chip trove included works by Damien Hirst and Tracey Emin
One of the best-selling recording artists of all time, George Michael amassed an enviable art collection with an emphasis on contemporary British artists during his lifetime. The blue-chip trove went under the hammer this past week courtesy of Christie’s London, which held two sales—an evening and an online—that fetched a total of $15 million, with the proceeds benefitting Michael’s philanthropic work.
Michael, who passed away in December 2016, supported and collected works of the groundbreaking Young British Artists (YBA), whose works rose to significance in the late 1980s. Artists such as Damien Hirst, Tracey Emin, Sarah Lucas, Michael Craig-Martin, and Marc Quinn became a part of this movement, which was marked by an openness in practice and materials, and sometimes even elicited shock for its more radical methods.
Below we share six of the top lots that sold in the two sales:
1. Damien Hirst, The Incomplete Truth, sold for $1.2 million
Damien Hirst, The Incomplete Truth, executed 2006. Photo: Courtesy of Christie's
2. Cecily Brown, Untitled, sold for $1.04 million
Cecily Brown, Yet to be titled, 2008. Photo: Courtesy of Christie's
3. Bridget Riley, Songbird, sold for $1.04 million
Bridget Riley, Songbird, 1982. Photo: Courtesy of Christie's
4. Tracey Emin, Hurricane, sold for $571,000
Tracey Emin, Hurricane, 2007. Photo: Courtesy of Christie's
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5. Michael Craig-Martin, Commissioned Portrait Untitled (George), sold for $232,000
Michael Craig-Martin, Commissioned Portrait Untitled (George), 2007. Photo: Courtesy of Christie's
6. Jim Lambie, Careless Whisper, sold for $232,000
Jim Lambie, Careless Whisper, 2009. Photo: Courtesy of Christie's
Cover: Jim Lambie, *Careless Whisper,* 2009.
Photo: Courtesy of Christie's
