Interest Surging For the Larsen Art Auction Featuring Alice Cooper’s Warhol
Cooper found the hidden gem in his storage unit. Now it is expected to sell for several million dollars and has generated unprecedented interest in the Fall Larsen Art Auction from bidders and consigners throughout the country.
Photo Courtesy: Chris Loomis/© 2021 The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, Inc. / Licensed by Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York.
(SCOTTSDALE, Ariz.) – In the wake of the announcement from Scottsdale, Arizona’s Larsen Gallery that they will be auctioning off an Andy Warhol original acrylic and silkscreen ink on canvas owned by rock legend Alice Cooper, interest in Larsen’s annual fall auction has surged. Consignments are up significantly due to the combined star power of both the art icon and the rock star, and as a result up to eight additional Warhol works will also be auctioned off at the event.
The 2021 Fall Larsen Art Auction, to be held on October 23rd, 2021, has earned enough buzz that owners of other original Andy Warhol works have contacted the gallery about future auctions. They were impressed by the Larsen Gallery’s personal attention to the work and the PR efforts focused on the Warhol. Buyers from around the country have expressed interest and will soon be descending on Arizona to participate in the auction live and in person.
The 1964/65 acrylic and silkscreen ink on canvas is from Andy Warhol’s Death and Disasters Series, which is considered one of his most important series. It is based on a press photo from the 1950s of the death chambers at Sing Sing prison, where Julius and Ethel Rosenberg were executed for spying on behalf of Soviet Russia.
Emma Amos (African-American, 1937-2020)
Time Will Tell 1998
Acrylic and fabric collage on canvas
68” x 85”
Alice Cooper famously re-discovered the work several years ago in his storage unit after a conversation with Dennis Hopper. It had been given to him by a former girlfriend during the early 70’s. Much to the surprise of the art world and the rocker himself, the work was worth far more than he ever expected.
“This work was given to me during some crazy years, and I had completely forgotten I even owned it,” said Cooper, who by luck found the painting perfectly preserved. The finding of Cooper’s Warhol has since made national and international news and has resulted in numerous collectors contacting the Larsen Gallery to consign artworks from their collections.
“Not only are we hearing from potential buyers who are interested in the ‘Little Electric Chair’, but we are also hearing from various collectors throughout the country who see the potential for Alice’s Warhol and now they are considering consigning their Warhol and other valuable art,” said Scott Larsen, owner of Larsen Gallery.
Also confirmed for Larsen’s fall auction is a major collection of artwork from prominent Black artists from the Stanley and Mikki Weithorn collection. The collector has donated a good portion of the collection to museums and has entrusted Larsen with helping sell the rest, due to Larsen’s impeccable reputation and ability to bring together buyers and sellers. All together Larsen will be auctioning more than 400 works of art in the fall auction.
Willie Birch (African-American, b. 1942)
Laughing to Keep from Crying 1980
Mixed media (sculpture)
26.5” x 20.25” x 20.25”
(Note: a social justice work of art depicting issues in 1980 that are still relevant today)
The Larsen Art Auctions have historically sold greater than 90% of lots offered with registered bidders from most every state and more than 40 different countries. The gallery will be donating a portion of its commission from “Little Electric Chair” to Cooper’s non-profit Solid Rock Foundation, which offers support and community to local teenagers.
For the schedule of events, auction information, or to register to bid for the 2021 Larsen Art Auction please visit the auction’s website at larsenartauction.com or contact the gallery at 480-941-0900.
For media inquiries about the Little Electric Chair, contact Jennifer Parks-Sturgeon at Jparks-sturgeon@rosemoserallynpr.com or by phone at 480-495-3806.