Tag Archive for: modern art posters

Invite Modern Masters Into Your Home

Ask any interior designer the most affordable way to add color and style to your home, and you might hear the reply, “Modern art prints.” A blank wall is a clean slate, waiting for you to add your own personality through prints and works on paper by modern masters. You can start or add to your collection of prints by bidding in this week’s curated auction, which is filled with wonderful works by Roy Lichtenstein, Jasper Johns, Pablo Picasso, Alexander Calder and other greats of the modern era.

Thirty-one thoughtfully chosen artworks are included in this selection, which opens with eight prints from Pablo Picasso’s portfolio titled “15 Drawings from the Pantheon 1946.” From an Albert Carmen/Pantheon limited edition of 500, the portfolio’s lithographs were printed on Arches paper with Pochoir hand coloring. They include: Man with Pipe, MinotaurFour Ballet DancersTwo Nudes, and four others.

One of eight Pablo Picasso lithographs from the portfolio Fifteen Drawings from the Pantheon 1946, est. $1,500-$2,000

 

The sensational pop art vision of Roy Lichtenstein comes to life in a 1966 triptych titled As I Opened Fire. Composed of three lithos in Lichtenstein’s trademark primary-color, comic-book style, the triptych tells a brief story about a fighter plane in action. Part of the rare Lifetime Edition published by the Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam, this print is estimated between $600-$800.

Roy Lichtenstein triptych As I Opened Fire, 1966, each of the three measuring 641 x 530mm, part of the rare Lifetime Edition published by the Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam, est. $600-$800

 

Souvenir d’Oceanie is the title of an Henri Matisse color lithograph artist-signed in the plate and printed under his supervision at the Mourlot Studio, Paris, in 1954. The lithograph plates were erased after the edition was published. The edition was issued by Teriade for Verve, Paris, in 1958, and is offered with a $400-$600 estimate.

Henri Matisse (French, 1869-1954), Souvenir d’Oceanie, lithograph created 1954, issued by Teriade for Verve, Paris, 1958, 260 x 356mm, est. $400-$600

 

Subtle pastels combine in Kikuo Saito’s square mixed-media print titled Tin Garden. Saito began his career as a studio assistant for some of the most prominent painters of the 1970s/80s, including Larry Poons, Kenneth Noland, and Helen Frankenthaler, and later developed his own calligraphic style. Tin Garden, published in 1981 by John Szoke, New York, is numbered 10 of an edition of 35. The artist pencil-signed the print at the lower right.

Kikuo Saito (Japanese), Tin Garden, 1981, mixed media/paper, 10/35, pencil signature at lower right, est. $800-$1,000

 

Representative of another genre altogether, Mel Ramos’ lithograph The Nile Queen, is from an edition of 199 and depicts a seductive woman in an emerald-green swimsuit against a background of Ancient Egyptian imagery. A former college art professor, Mel Ramos is best known for his paintings of superheroes and female nudes, which often incorporate elements of realist and abstract art.

Mel Ramos (American, b. 1935-), The Nile Queen, edition of 199, printed in 2000, 28 x 25in, pencil-signed by artist at lower right, est. $800-$900

Art Prints Worthy of Custom Framing

You know a simple print or poster is truly magnificent when it’s worthy of a custom frame. It deserves to be showcased and highlighted. And after viewing this week’s collection of modern art prints created by world-class artists, you’ll want to call your local frame shop. Let’s take a look at 6 of the highlights in this collection

Topping the list of items having the highest estimates is an unsigned drawing of Andy Warhol’s Dollar Sign on paper. The reverse is stamped “The Estate of Andy Warhol” and bears the stamp of the Warhol Foundation. This original drawing is expected to top $25,000.

‘Dollar Sign’ by Andy Warhol, 1981, unsigned drawing, paper size is 23.5in x 31.5in inches, stamped on the back ‘The Estate of Andy Warhol.’ Estimate: $25,025-$27,550. Jasper52 image

 

Also by Warhol, are two unsigned serigraphs, variations of his Electric Chairpublished by Sunday B. Morning, a Belgian publisher. The prints are estimated at $2,525-$2,775 each.

‘Electric Chair – Sunday B Morning’ by Andy Warhol, 1971, unsigned serigraph, image size: 37 x 50 inches. Estimate: $2,525-$2,775. Jasper52 image

 

A signed Alexander Calder offset lithograph titled Flight from Tyrrany was published in 1975 for Amnesty International’s series titled Artists for Amnesty. Calder was one of 15 artists commissioned to create art for the project. From an edition of 100, the print is signed and numbered in pencil, and carries a $2,525-$2,775 estimate.

‘Flight from Tyranny: For Amnesty International’ by Alexander Calder, 1975, signed offset lithograph, image size of 29.75in x 23in. Estimate: $2,525-$2,775. Jasper52 image

 

In near mint condition is a copy of the exhibition book for the 1982 Keith Haring exhibition at the Tony Shafrazi Gallery in New York. Published in 1982 and printed by Fleetwood Press, the spiral-bound exhibition book is signed by the artist. The book contains a foreword by Tony Shafrazi and texts by Robert Pincus-Witten, Jeffrey Deitch, and David Shapiro.

Keith Haring–Tony Shafrazi Gallery exhibition book, 1982 signed by the artist, paper size is 9in x 9.75in, limited edition of 2,000. Estimate: $1,525-$1,675. Jasper52 image

 

Also by Haring is an unsigned lithograph, an authorized reproduction of the artist’s poster for the 1986 “Crackdown on Crack” concert in New York City. Famed concert promoter and producer Bill Graham organized the concert to raise funds to combat the crack cocaine epidemic in New York. The limited edition print was approved by the Keith Haring Foundation.

‘Crack Down!’ by Keith Haring, 1986, unsigned lithograph, paper size is 22in x 17in, from an edition of 2,000, a reproduction of a poster Haring designed for the 1986 Crackdown on Crack concert in New York City. Estimate: $425-$475. Jasper52 image

 

An unsigned lithograph of Robert Rauschenberg’s Re-entry (Diptych) is from a portfolio of 10 pieces titled Mirrors of the Mind, published by Multiples Inc. and Castelli Graphics in 1975. In mint condition, the print has a $2,225-$2,450 estimate.

‘Re-entry (Diptych)’ by Robert Rauschenberg, 1975, unsigned lithograph, paper size is 15in x 11.25in, from an edition size of 100, numbered in pencil. Estimate: $2,225-$2,450

 

View more from this curated collection of 20th Century Modern Art Prints and find your favorites.