Andy Warhol (American, 1928 - 1987). "After the Party [collage]". Collage/mixed media on fabric. 1979. Signed and dated in black marker by Warhol, lower center. Unique. Overall condition very good with no holes or tears. There are scattered spots (from Champagne?) primarily on the recto, and some minor staining, primarily on the verso. The object, a woman’s size small, is cotton with a nylon lining, wearable, with the zipper fully functional. The compositional ink was applied with skill and care. Collage elements: the word “After” consists of black sequins sewn onto “appliqué mesh” and surrounded with embroidered white yarn, the mesh then sewn to the dress; the word “The” is composed with black sequins but without the corresponding yarn, the mesh sewn to the object; the word “Party” consists of red beadwork sewn to the appliqué mesh, thence sewn to the dress. The mesh edges have not been trimmed or folded. Literature/catalogue raisonne: See Feldman/Schellmann II.183 (pg. 102) for the editioned screenprint. Overall size: 36 5/8 x 18 3/4 in. (930 x 476 mm). A unique, classic, and very rare item, previously unrecorded. The image of our object is based on, but is not identical to, Warhol’s “After the Party” screenprint of 1979 (attached to this catalogue as image #10). That print is white (with a rainbow roll drawing line) on a black background, whereas our example is black (without the rainbow roll) on a white background. The print’s image is horizontal whereas ours is vertical. In addition there is a large undefined object lower center in our work, not found in the screenprint. Thus it appears that our image was created using a screen different than that of the editioned print. This fact plus the extensive collage work marks it as one of a kind. According to ‘Gordon’s Art Reference’ the auction record for the screenprint itself, issued in an edition of 1,000, is $32,500 (Phillips, New York, April 28th, 2014, lot #63). According to an “art-worker” at Warhol’s 860 Broadway “Factory,” a socialite showed up for a late-night party there wearing this plain white dress. She left in the wee hours of the morning wrapped in a large piece of canvas, sans clothing. Over the next few days Warhol and various Warhol “Superstars” applied their magic and created the work. Image copyright © Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York. [29392-19-50000]