This month Swann Galleries features an auction titled LGBTQ+ Art, Material & History.
It’s a testament to the growing interest in the newly defined area of collecting gay cultural artifacts. This offering represents a broad swath of nineteenth and twentieth century political, social and sexual culture.
A number of original works of art by Tom of Finland and other artists associated with or influenced by him: including Sadao Hasegawa and Jim French.
On offer will also be rare material from the early years of the gay liberation movement in the U.S. and AIDs activism of the 80s.
Plus photographs by highly regarded artists such as, David Wojnarowicz, Diane Arbus, George Plat Lynes, Robert Mapplethorpe, Jimmy DeSana, Herb Ritts, Marcus Leatherdale, and Peter Hujar.
Other notable artists included in the auction are Paul Cadmus, Mark Beard, Jean Cocteau, Leonor Fini, Andy Warhol, Keith Haring, Mel Odom, Marcus Leatherdale, Rene Ricard and more.
Trey Speegle, In Memoriam / Andy Warhol / Pax., Est. $400-600
The Memorial poster I designed for Andy Warhol after his death in 1987 (above) which his gravestone was based on, is also in the auction.
It’s an extensive offering with over 350 lots, so take a minute to scroll through, it really covers a LOT of ground.
The LGBTQ+ Art, Material Culture & History is online at Swann Auction Galleries, Aug 17, 2023.
Too Much Graphics Collective, Never Again! Fight Back, Est. $1000-1500
Keith Haring, Silence = Death, Est. $40,000-60,000
Keith Haring, Into 84 poster, Est. $4000-6000
Keith Haring, Stop AIDS, Est. $500-900
Andy Warhol, Tate Gallery poster, Est. $2000-3000
David LaChapelle, Absolut Outrageous, $300-400
Hugh Steers, In the Paper, Est. $40,000-60,000
Mark Beard, Sodomy, Est. $5000-7500
Greg Gorman, Pool Study, Est. $1500-2500
Herb Ritts, Staley Wise poster, Est. $300-400
40 issues of Physique Pictorial, Est. $1000-1500
Jim French, Mock-up for Colt Issue #25, Est. $4000-6000
Tom of Finland, A Man and His Boot, Est. $1000-1500
Tom of Finland, Leather Belt Buckle, Est. $400-600
JEAN COCTEA, Le Fumeur, Est. $4000-6000
Don Bachardy, Portrait of Andrew Ferrero, Est. $2000-3000
Mel Odom, Red Prince, 2022, Est. $1500-2000
Erik Hanson, French Bluto, Est. $1000-1500
Rene Ricard, I Dreamed, Est. $1500-2000
Drag, Group of 49 postcards, Est. $500-750
Gay Activists Alliance, Set of Vote Gay fliers in 4 languages, $1200-1800
Gene Bilbrew, Transvestite Personnel, Illustration, Est. $1200-1500
Signed portrait of the cross-dressing Harlem Renaissance performer Gladys Bentley, Est. $1000-1500
Napoleón Sarony, Portrait of Oscar Wilde, Est. $2000-3000
Diane Arbus, Two men dancing at a drag ball, NYC, Est. $10,000-15,000
David Wojnarowicz, Untitled (Buffaloes) Est. $12,000-18,000
Peter Hujar, Shoe for Elizabeth, Est. $6000-9000
Jimmy Desana, 5 photographs from the Suburban series, Est. $6000-9000
Horst P. Horst, Male Nude (backside) Est. $4000-6000
George Platt Lynes, Ted Starkowski, Est. $2500-3500
Robert Mapplethorpe, Roger Koch, Est. $5000-7500
Marcus Leatherdale, Lisa Lyon II, Est. $2000-3000
Marcus Leatherdale, Denim vest printed with a cyanotype portrait of Lisa Lyon, Est. $1000-1500
Cecil Beaton, Junk Plot, $2000-3000
Arch Connelly, Beauty IV, Est. $1500-2500
