As part of the exhibition Fifty-Seventh: A Century of Art, Bonhams is displaying two rare 1965 portraits by Pop Art icon Andy Warhol at its flagship gallery on 57th Street. On view through October 8, these two companion pieces offer a captivating glimpse into Warhol’s mid-1960s portraiture practice.
Installation view of Fifty-Seventh: A Century of Art at Bonhams in New York City. Courtesy of Bonhams.
The Artworks: Miriam Davidson (1965)
Both works feature the same sitter, Miriam Davidson, rendered in spray paint and silkscreen ink on linen. Measuring 20 by 16 inches each, the paired portraits exemplify Warhol’s mechanical yet deeply personal approach to modern portraiture during one of the most creative peaks of his career at The Factory.
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Andy Warhol, Miriam Davidson, 1965, spray paint and silkscreen ink on linen, 20 x 16 1/8 in (51 x 40.9 cm). Courtesy of Bonhams
The works are registered in The Andy Warhol Catalogue Raisonné: Paintings and Sculptures 1964–1969, Vol. 2. Originating from the Roger J. Davidson Collection in Toronto, the companion works passed through auction in 1996 before entering the current private collection. By applying silkscreen layers over delicate spray-painted backgrounds, Warhol turned portrait commissions into vibrant studies of color, contrast, and celebrity culture – transforming private individuals into iconic Pop subjects.
