NEW YORK, NY.- Christie’s announced an enthusiastic turnout for the first Andy Warhol @ Christie’s online-only sale, achieving $2,297,375—twice the overall pre-sale estimate—to benefit The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts. Proceeds from this multi-year, multi-platform partnership enable the foundation to continue to develop its long term support of the visual arts. The auction selling rate was 99% by lot and 99% by value.

“The excellent results of the first Warhol online-only sale demonstrate the international enthusiasm from both new and established collectors who bid from 36 countries, validating Warhol's democratizing vision” stated Michael Straus, Chairman of the Board of The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts. “Andy Warhol @ Christie’s has advanced both our philanthropic programs and our work in keeping Andy’s legacy alive. We are thrilled with the results of this first sale and look forward to many more exciting online sales in the years ahead“ added Joel Wachs, President of The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts.

“Part of what fueled the sale was that so many of the works had never before been seen by the public and so many were unique. In addition, the online format allowed for bidders from around the world, most of who had never had access to a Warhol work before, to participate in Andy Warhol @ Christie’s” stated Amy Cappellazzo, Chairman of Post-War and Contemporary Development.

This first online-only Warhol sale featured works representing a wide array of media spanning the artist’s career, many never before seen by the public. Estimates ranged from $600 to $70,000, offering both seasoned collectors and firsttime buyers intimate access to Warhol’s work. Highlights of the sale included I Love Your Kiss Forever Forever (lot 94), a 1964 lithograph in color, which sold for $112,500 – almost 40 times its pre-sale estimate, In the bottom of My garden (lot 52), the complete book of offset lithographs colored by hand, circa 1956, realized 14 times its pre-sale estimate with $80,250. The Self-Portrait with Fright Wig screenprint on t-shirt (lot 16) realized $47,500. Especially notable was the turnout for the Warhol photographs, which represent 46% of the lots and were 100% sold.

The sale’s innovative format attracted 65,000 visitors and 263 bidders, which generated over 1,500 bids from 36 countries. The next Andy Warhol @ Christie’s sale in April 2013 will be dedicated to Andy’s legacy at the infamous nightclub Studio 54.