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Kate Moss, 2005

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Kate Moss (Original), 2005
Edition: 50 signed
Kate Moss is a clear homage to Andy Warhol’s iconic Marilyn Monroe suite, both in its subject and its formal execution. Banksy combines the faces of Moss and Monroe, superimposing Monroe’s hair onto a grey-scale portrait of Moss, then staining it with vibrant colors. Warhol’s portraits of Monroe, like many of his other works, were both a glorification of fame and a satirical comment on it as a spectacle. Kate Moss has been described as one of the most recognizable faces of her time, appearing on over 300 magazine covers and featuring in Time’s list of the world’s 100 most influential people in 2007. She contributed to the history of fashion for 25 years, and her image became part of global popular culture.
The Marilyn Monroe (Marilyn) screen-prints are one of Andy Warhol’s most revered and recognized portfolios. Known for his fascination for the glitz and glamour that fame offers, Marilyn Monroe was one of Warhol’s earliest muses. Warhol used a publicity shot from Marilyn’s movie Niagara in 1953, taken by Gene Korman. Marilyn reached fame as an actress, but Warhol was fascinated about how her fame grew exponentially after her tragic death in August 1962. Warhol immortalized the actress in an almost propagandist nature. It has been said that Warhol created an icon out of an icon.
The Marilyn Monroe (Marilyn) full suite was printed in 1967 by Aetna Silkscreen Products, New York. A portfolio of ten different screen-prints on paper, each in edition of 250 signed in pencil and numbered with a rubber stamp on verso. Some of these prints are initialed on verso and some are dated. There were also 26 AP signed and lettered A-Z on verso printed for each image.
The Marilyn portfolio is seen as an extension of the initial silkscreen paintings Warhol started in 1962. Each image from the portfolio is sized 36×36 inches and shows a close crop of Marilyn’s face. Each print is vibrantly colored to reflect her vivacious personality. In many of the prints, her iconic lips are boldly colored a deep red. Many of the prints also emphasize her platinum blonde hair by adding variants of yellow. In one of the prints, the actress is colored in silver and black, a stark departure from its vivid counterparts. This recalls the effect of watching the actress on the cinema screen in black and white. The dark colors are also clearly a somber reminder of the actress’s passing. The colors ultimately bring to life Marilyn Monroe’s iconic status and celebrity glamour. By creating repetitive imagery, Warhol evokes her ubiquitous celebrity status.
Kate Moss was first released in 2005 in light blue as an edition of 50 prints signed. Shortly afterwards, another series of 120 prints was released in six different colorways: Pink, Apricot/Gold, Blue/Grey, Green/Turquoise, Red/Lime, and Purple/Red with 20 prints of each. All prints are signed by the artist. In 2011, Banksy created a unique edition for Kate Moss herself, as a wedding gift on the occasion of her honeymoon, where she was surprised to find the artwork in her hotel bathroom waiting for her.

DESCRIPTION

Kate Moss

Year: 2005
Medium: Screen-print in colors on wove paper
Size: 70×70 cm (27 1/2 x 27 1/2 inches)
Publisher: Pictures on Walls

Editions

Original Colorway: 50 signed
Colorways Editions: 20 signed each
Apricot/Gold, Green/Turquoise, Purple, Red/Green, Pink, Blue/Grey

VIP Edition (Red Lips): 12 signed AP

COLORWAYS

Kate Moss (Blue Grey), 2005
Edition: 20 signed
Kate Moss (Red Lime), 2005
Edition: 20 signed
Kate Moss (Pink), 2005
Edition: 20 signed
Kate Moss (Green Turquoise), 2005
Edition: 20 signed
Kate Moss (Purple Red), 2005
Edition: 20 signed

Kate Moss (Apricot/Gold), 2005
Edition: 20 signed

Kate Moss (Red Lips AP), 2005
Edition: 12 signed AP

AUCTION RESULTS

Updated as of 30 June 2022

1. Kate Moss (Original)

An artist Proof aside from the numbered edition sold at Sotheby’s online on 26 April 2022 for GBP 226,800 (USD 285,768).

Kate Moss (Original) sold twice at auction in 2021.
Sotheby’s online (17 September 2021): GBP 201,600 (USD 280,224)
Sotheby’s online (18 March 2021): GBP 277,200 (USD 385,308).

The last time it sold at auction was in 2016.

 

Kate Moss (Original Colorway), 2005
An Artist’s Proof aside from the edition of 50
Signed, dated, and annotated ‘AP/2’ in pencil, lower right
Inscribed ‘4 HELEN ❤’ in pencil, lower left
Sotheby’s online, 26 April 2022
GBP 226,800 / USD 285,768

 

Kate Moss (Original), 2005
Signed and dated in pencil, lower right
Numbered 26/50 in pencil, lower right
Sotheby’s online, 17 September 2021
GBP 201,600 / USD 280,224

 

Kate Moss (Original), 2005
Screen-print in colors on wove paper
Signed, dated, and numbered 47/50 in pencil, lower right
Sotheby’s online, 18 March 2021

GBP 277,200 / USD 385,308


2. Kate Moss (Colorways)

 

An Artist’s Proof aside from Kate Moss (Purple/Orange) sold at Phillips London on 19 January 2022 for GBP 239,400 (USD 327,978).

Two colorways sold at Christie’s online on 23 September 2021 for GBP 187,500 (USD 260,625) each.
Only one Kate Moss colorway had appeared at auction since 2016, Kate Moss (Pink) sold for GBP 68,750 (USD 90,750) at Christie’s online on 17 March 2020.
Kate Moss (Purple/Orange), 2005
Signed and dated in pencil, lower right
Inscribed ‘AP/STEF01’ in pencil, lower left
An Artist Proof aside from the edition of 20
Phillips London, 19 January 2022
GBP 239,400 / USD 327,978

Kate Moss (Red, Lime Green), 2005
Signed and dated in pencil, lower right
Numbered 16/20 in pencil, lower right
Christie’s online, 23 September 2021
GBP 187,500 / USD 260,625

Kate Moss (Green, Turquoise Blue), 2005
Signed and dated in pencil, lower right
Numbered 16/20 in pencil, lower right
Christie’s online, 23 September 2021
GBP 187,500 / USD 260,625

Kate Moss (Pink), 2006
Signed and dated in pencil, lower right
Dedicated and inscribed with a heart symbol and a peace sign, lower left
A proof aside from the edition of 20
Christie’s online, 17 March 2020
GBP 68,750 / USD 90,750

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