Warhol car crash smashes record

Andy Warhol’s Silver Car Crash (Double Disaster) sold for a record $105.4 million in November 2013.

Silver Car Crash by Andy Warhol sold for a record breaking $105 million at Sotheby’s New York auction on Wednesday November 13.

The figure set a new auction record for Warhol and is the second highest price ever paid at auction for contemporary art – the highest being the $142.2 m fetched by Francis Bacon’s Three Studies of Lucian Freud, sold at Christie’s a few days earlier.

“The night truly belonged to Andy Warhol,” said Toby Meyer, worldwide head of contemporary art at Sotheby’s. “Silver Car Crash is the most important work of contemporary art we have ever had the privilege to offer, and its exceptional result is a testament to that fact.”

At over 8ft by 13 ft, the monumental painting is one of only four Car Crash works of this scale in the pivotal Death and Disaster series and the only one remaining in private hands. Previous owners have included Charles Saatchi, Thomas Ammann and Gunter Sachs. The identity of the new owner, who placed their bid by telephone, has not been revealed.

“With access to more information than ever, the sophistication of our clients from every corner of the globe impresses me with every sale,” said Meyer.