The boom of Michael’s portraits

A portrait of Michael drawn by Australian artist Brett Livingston Strong may be put up for sale. The portrait, measuring 101 by 127 centimeters, is titled The Book and was created in 1990. In this work, Michael is painted wearing red velvet while holding a journal of thoughts and ideas, and the background of the portrait is his Neverland home. The portrait was also influenced by Vermeer, one of Michael’s favorite painters. In 1990, the painting sold for $2.1 million. The current owners are two toy designers, Marty Abrams and John Gentile, who in 1992 acquired the painting from a bankrupt Japanese businessman in exchange for debts. Abrams had read that another painting of Michael (the Andy Warhol painting) was going to be auctioned, and decided to find the right opportunity to sell this work. The two dealers even received purchase offers from Dubai, but they ran into problems with pricing. At present, the portrait is being displayed at the Dancy-Power Automotive exhibition on Lenox Avenue in Harlem. About 400 printed paintings made from this portrait, signed by Michael, have been sold. So what’s the story behind this portrait?

A sudden, brilliant idea occurred to these two friends—Michael and Strong—to find a way to raise money for charitable purposes. During the years 1989 and 1990, they made a pact to collaborate artistically, and this portrait was part of that agreement. When Strong informed the music star that a Japanese businessman was willing to pay several million dollars in exchange for a portrait of Michael, Michael said that if the buyer was willing to break the world record for the price of a portrait of a celebrity during his lifetime, he would be willing to have a portrait of himself painted. Later, it was announced that $2.1 million was the highest amount ever paid for the purchase of a portrait of a prominent person during his lifetime. Strong has a number of paintings created by Michael as part of their agreement. He says he wants to display these works: “ These paintings are really interesting. Some of them are extraordinary. They’ve been in storage for 17 years.”

The painting that Andy Warhol drew of Michael in 1984 is scheduled to be displayed starting August 6 for only three days at the British Music Experience located in the O2 Arena in London, where concerts by the King of Pop were supposed to be held. After the exhibition ends, the portrait—measuring 76.2 by 66 centimeters—will go to New York to be sold to the highest bidder. The auction’s starting price will be $800,000. The most expensive Warhol portrait ever sold was $28 million. The curator of the British Music Experience said: “ Michael’s influence on pop music around the world is unmatched. We have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to offer the public an unforgettable experience before this portrait leaves public view and becomes part of a private collection.” Janet Lahr, from the WeirD Gallery and the representative of the seller of Michael’s portrait, says: “ This portrait brings together the undisputed king of pop art and the undisputed king of pop music in one place, and it’s a tribute to these two great talents in the history of the world.” Source: eMJey / The New York Times / PR Newswire