Warhol ‘Moonwalk’ prints float above $417K at Clars

Andy Warhol, ‘Moonwalk,’ $417,500

OAKLAND, Calif. – Clars Auction Gallery is proud to present the results of the firm’s Modern + Contemporary Art + Design auction held on September 17. This curated specialized sale was a great success realizing more than $1,300,000 with slightly more than 365 lots.

The sale was led by Andy Warhol’s iconic Moonwalk screenprints. Rendered in 1987, the suite depicts Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin’s famous walk on the moon during the Apollo 11 mission of 1969.  Accented in yellow and pink, respectively, the prints capture Warhol’s classic Pop Art visuals while simultaneously demonstrating a shift away from commercial imagery to historical events and figures. The works were intended to be a part of a series depicting famous and influential television events, but due to the artist’s death just months after their printing, Moonwalk was the only image completed. With numerous collectors vying for the prints, the price soared to $417,500.

Rick Unruh, CEO and President of Clars noted, “Our Modern + Contemporary Art + Design sale reached a global audience, evidence of the fact that Clars is on the map when it comes to Modern and Contemporary. We also continue to reach record prices with works by Andy Warhol. It couldn’t have been better timing in offering these screenprints, with the splash down of the SpaceX Inspiration4 this weekend – the first all-civilian space flight.”

Paul Wonner, ‘Flowers and Boxes of Fruit,’ $125,000

Another major highlight from the sale was a 1991 Paul Wonner painting, Flowers and Boxes of Fruit that commanded $125,000, well above its $80,000-$120,000 estimate. 

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