Bidding is now open for Heritage Auctions’ April 23rd Illustration Art Auction, which features iconic works by Patrick Nagel.
Nagel, who died at the age of 38 in 1984, was best known for his Art Deco- and Japanese woodblock-influenced illustrations of women, for the magazine Playboy and notably for the cover of Duran Duran’s album Rio. He lived and worked in Los Angeles as a graphic designer before finding success as a poster artist. His limited edition prints and rare sculptures became sought-after, but the value of his work declined due to mismanagement of his heritage after his death. Now there’s renewed interest in Nagel’s images as icons of ‘80s style, and bids for some of his works at Heritage Auctions are opening at $30,000.
Untitled, reproduced on page 123 of Nagel: The Art of Patrick Nagel by Patrick Nagel, Vanderbilt, 1985, as well as an limited edition serigraph titled Gina, has an estimate of $60,000 – $80,000, while other works such as serigraphs are estimated at £300-$500.
Also included in the event are works by pinup artists Alberto Vargas, Earl Moran, Peter Driben and Gil Elvgren, paperback illustrators Ken Kelley and Boris Vallejo, science fiction illustrators Hannes Bok, Virgil Finlay, Greg Hildebrandt, Hajimi Sorayama and Ed Emshwiller, and pulp magazine illustrators Walter Baumhofer, George Rozen and Rafael Desoto among others.
Bidding on floor lots starts at 11:00 AM CT on Tuesday, April 23rd, with the internet session at 4:00 PM CT on Tuesday, April 23rd. Find the auction website here.
See also:
Elvis Presley’s Final Documents Up for Auction Online
Sporting Legends Lead John Nicholson’s Auction of Fine Art
Frank Frazetta Fantasy Painting Egyptian Queen Comes to Auction For First Time
Graphic Novelist Posy Simmonds Retrospective Exhibition Opens at House of Illustration
