Andy Warhol’s $26m Digital Portrait of Debbie Harry Hits Market

artlyst.com – 3rd August 2024

A rare digital portrait of Blondie’s Debbie Harry by Andy Warhol has resurfaced and is now available for sale, carrying a hefty $26 million price tag. This distinctive piece of digital art, created in 1985 on an Amiga 1000 home computer, includes a Warhol-signed floppy disk containing ten further original images.

Warhol, known for his avant-garde approach and pioneering spirit, collaborated with the now-defunct tech company Commodore as part of a promotional event at New York’s Lincoln Center. The portrait of Debbie Harry was crafted live during this event, showcasing the capabilities of the Amiga computer in the hands of a modern art maestro.

Debbie Harry, reflecting on the creation in her 2019 memoir “Face It,” recounted the unique experience: “Andy called and asked me to model for a portrait he was going to create live at Lincoln Center as a promotion for the Commodore Amiga computer. It was a pretty amazing event.” The event featured a full orchestra and numerous technicians in lab coats, with Warhol’s creative process on full display.

The portrait, previously believed to be lost, has been in the possession of Jeff Bruette, a Commodore digital technician who assisted Warhol in using the Amiga computer. Bruette’s decision to sell this rare piece and the original diskette containing the digital images marks a significant moment in the intersection of digital art and high-value collectables.

“It’s been almost 40 years since I worked with Warhol—it was a life-changing assignment,” Bruette said. “The rise of NFTs and digital art has rekindled interest in this piece, and I believe it’s time for the world to experience it as it was meant to be.”

The sale of this unique digital artwork highlights the legacy of Warhol’s innovative approach to art and technology. While the $26 million price tag is steep, it reflects digital art’s increasing value and recognition in the contemporary market. Warhol’s work attracts collectors and art enthusiasts, bridging the gap between traditional and digital mediums.

The piece’s significance is further underscored by previous high-profile sales of Warhol’s digital art. In 2021, five NFTs created from restored Amiga images fetched $3.38 million at a Christie’s auction, signalling a robust market for Warhol’s digital creations.

In addition to the Debbie Harry portrait, Warhol’s digital oeuvre from the Amiga project includes renditions of his famous Campbell’s soup can, Flowers, and a reinterpretation of Botticelli’s “Birth of Venus.” These works, conceived during a brief but impactful period of digital experimentation, continue to resonate in the evolving landscape of digital and fine art.

Harry noted that she believed only two copies of this computer-generated portrait existed, one she owned. The second portrait has now been revealed to have been in the possession of Jeff Bruette, a digital technician for Commodore who worked with Warhol, teaching him how to use the Amiga computer. Bruette plans to privately sell the Harry portrait and the original Amiga disk, which contains the other images created during an interview with Amiga World and an experimental image from the MTV show “Andy Warhol’s Fifteen Minutes.”

Andy Warhol and Deborah Harry: The Artist And The Muse
The friendship between Pop artist Andy Warhol and punk rock diva Deborah Harry is a tale of mutual admiration and creative synergy. Warhol and Harry formed a unique bond that transcended the worlds of visual art and music, influencing each other profoundly.

Their first significant encounter occurred in the late 1970s when both were at the height of their careers. Warhol was already a celebrated figure in the art world, known for his groundbreaking work with silkscreen prints and celebrity portraits. Harry, with her band Blondie, was revolutionising the music scene with a unique blend of punk, disco, and new wave elements, as evidenced by hits like “Heart of Glass” and “Call Me.”

Warhol was immediately taken with Harry’s striking looks and charismatic presence, leading him to create several portraits of her. These portraits, characterised by Warhol’s signature vibrant colours and bold lines, captured Harry’s edgy beauty and cemented her status as a pop culture icon. One of the most famous works is a silkscreen portrait that has since become one of Warhol’s most recognisable pieces.

Their friendship extended beyond the canvas. Warhol and Harry often attended parties, art openings, and events, becoming fixtures of New York City’s vibrant nightlife scene. They shared a mutual appreciation for each other’s work and often collaborated on various projects. For instance, Harry and Blondie performed at the opening of Warhol’s 1980 “Portraits of the Seventies” exhibition at the Whitney Museum.

Harry also appeared on Warhol’s television show, “Andy Warhol’s Fifteen Minutes,” where the artist interviewed her. Their on-screen chemistry was palpable, showcasing a playful and genuine camaraderie. Warhol’s admiration for Harry was evident as he once stated, “Debbie is one of the few singers who can perform with perfect pitch and style.”

Their relationship was not just a friendship but a fusion of art and music that left an indelible mark on their careers. Warhol’s portraits of Harry remain some of his most celebrated works, while Harry’s association with Warhol helped solidify her image as a punk rock icon and fashion trendsetter. Their collaboration and mutual influence significantly shaped the trajectory of their careers, demonstrating the power of artistic synergy.

The friendship between Andy Warhol and Deborah Harry exemplifies the dynamic interplay between different forms of artistic expression. This demonstrates how two creative minds can unite to inspire and elevate each other.

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