LONDON.- Phillips will present a selection of works by Andy Warhol from the Collection of the legendary German goalkeeper, Harald (Toni) Schumacher. The three works to feature in the Editions Evening sale this September are the complete set of Beethoven prints; a Marilyn, and a Muhammed Ali. Three iconic works, collected by an icon in his own right, who had a personal connection to each piece. Marilyn was Schumacher’s first purchase in the early 1980s as his career and his team’s success was reaching a peak. Having admired Warhol’s work for some time, Schumacher was then introduced to the artist in 1983 by gallerist Hermann Wünsche. Warhol agreed to take Schumacher’s portrait, visiting him in Germany and snapping 30-50 Polaroids of the star footballer, which resulted in two paintings and four unique prints. Due to his relationship with Andy Warhol both the Marilyn and the Muhammed Ali to feature in the Editions auction this September have been signed by the artist and given personal dedications to Schumacher.
Toni Schumacher, said, “I have great memories of meeting Warhol and these three editions from my collection I have lived with for a very long time. I’ve always had the idea that they would have a future life after my collection, and I hope the next owners will be able to appreciate them as much as I have. It feels like the right time to sell with 2020 celebrating Warhol and his work with retrospective exhibitions at the Tate Modern in London, and at the Museum Ludwig in Cologne.”
Anne Schneider-Wilson, Senior Specialist, Editions said: “We are delighted to host the Collection of Toni Schumacher in our September Editions auction. The works illustrate the personal relationship between artist and sporting legend and are iconic representations of Andy Warhol’s obsession with celebrity of all kinds, both historic and contemporary.”
The Warhol works from the Collection of Toni Schumacher will feature alongside further key Warhol editions from throughout the artist’s career, including unique Marilyn proofs, Flowers, Mao, and Chanel no. 5 editions. Beyond Warhol, the Evening & Day Editions auctions in London on 10 September 2020 will include Modern and Contemporary works from blue-chip artists such as, Pablo Picasso, Joan Miró, Gerhard Richter, David Hockney, Damien Hirst, and Grayson Perry.
