Physique Pictorial Magazines, Spring 1957, issue & August 1963 issue. Volume 13 No. 1 issue signed by Tom of Finland with love to Andy Warhol in 1982. Spring 1957 signed by Warhol to Tom with a signature circa 1980. Starting price $ 1,200.00. Photo Auctionata
BERLIN.- The online auction house Auctionata will present its first “Erotica” art sale on August 27, 2015 at 12 pm EDT. The provocative auction will be broadcast via livestream and celebrates human sexuality across a range of mediums. The sale will offer a selection of more than 100 erotic artworks, including photographs, paintings, drawings and sculptures. Ranging from merely suggestive to flamboyantly overt, the works explore themes of desire, repression, psychology, and sensuality within art.
Yiannis Nomikos, Erotica Mythical Skull, U.S.A., 1975. Starting price $ 1,500.00. Photo Auctionata
One of the most remarkable objects in this sale is the sculpture ‘Santa Octopussy’ by the American performance and video artist Paul McCarthy (b. 1954). The 2004 work explores one of McCarthy’s best-known themes—revealing the dark side of modern-day fairy tales, in this case stripping away the kindly veneer of a beloved Christmas figure. Made of urethane, brass and epoxy, it has a starting price of $30,000. McCarthy is widely regarded as one of the most subversive and provocative contemporary artists, whose works have been exhibited at the Venice Biennale, the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York, and the Tate Modern in London.
Paul McCarthy, ‘Santa Octopussy’, Sculpture, 2004. Starting price $ 30,000.00. Photo Auctionata
Also of note is the notorious 1978 portfolio “X” by Robert Mapplethorpe (1946 – 1989), complete with 13 gelatin silver prints featuring homoerotic and sadomasochistic themes. With a starting price of $18,000, this famous work is extremely rare and highly sought after. The auction includes numerous other highlights as well, such as a photograph of a reclining male nude from the German-American fashion photographer Horst P. Horst, a series of drawings by Tom of Finland, and a Keith Haring collage.
Robert Mapplethorpe, X Portfolio, 1978. Starting price $ 16,000.00. Photo Auctionata
Horst P. Horst, 'Male Nude I, New York', Silver Print, 1952. Starting price $ 3,000.00. Photo Auctionata
Tom of Finland, Untitled, Pastel on Paper, 1979. Starting price $ 4,000.00. Photo Auctionata
Tom of Finland,‘Untitled (Locker Room)’, Graphite, 1986. Starting price $ 8,000.00. Photo Auctionata
Tom of Finland, ‘Untitled (Working Drawing)’, Pencil, 1974. Starting price $ 4,000.00. Photo Auctionata
Keith Haring, ‘Untitled’, Collage, 1989. Starting price $ 18,000.00. Photo Auctionata
The auction is curated by inveterate New York-based gallerist and art consultant Kathleen Cullen, whose extensive experience includes exhibitions that detail subversive, explicit, or otherwise provocative subjects. As an active member of the New York contemporary art scene for over 30 years, she will offer valuable insights throughout the sale. The auction can be followed live on www.auctionata.com or via the Auctionata Live iPhone App.
George Platt Lynes, ‘Christian William (Bill) Miller’ (detail), 1945. Starting price $ 1,600.00. Photo Auctionata
George Platt Lynes, ‘Embrace’ (detail), Gelatin Silver Print, 1953. Starting price $ 1,000.00. Photo Auctionata
George Platt Lynes, ‘Fred (Butch) Melton & Wilbur Pippin’ (detail), 1953. Starting price $ 1,000.00. Photo Auctionata
George Platt Lynes, ‘Richard Kroemer’ (detail), 1947/2010. Starting price $ 1,000.00. Photo Auctionata
George Platt Lynes, ‘Ralph McWilliams’ (detail), 1952/2010. Starting price $ 1,000.00. Photo Auctionata
Vincenzo Galdi, Untitled (Male Nude Reclining), c. 1900. Starting price $ 600.00. Photo Auctionata
Wilhelm von Gloeden, Untitled (Standing Nude) detail, c. 1908. Starting price $ 600.00. Photo Auctionata
Wilhelm von Gloeden, Untitled, Gelatin Silver Print, c. 1900. Starting price $ 800.00. Photo Auctionata