
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
