An attic find of original artworks which includes some by Andy Warhol and Jean-Michel Basquiat – literally unseen by anyone since being stored away more than 30 years ago – will finally see the light of day in an auction planned for Saturday, December 2nd, by John McInnis Auctioneers, in the firm’s Amesbury gallery at 76 Main Street, starting at 1 pm Eastern time, as part of their two-day sale of the contents of the Harriett (Woodsom) Gould estate, the family country home in Amesbury.
Those that are familiar with Andy Warhol will recognize the name of Jon Gould as his closest companion in the 1980’s. Jon was a collector of art and many pieces he purchased and acquired were exhibited in Vermont a number of years ago and are not part of this sale. The items found here in the family home were hidden away, many, more personal in nature.
The artworks, plus other items relating to Warhol and Basquiat and other pop art luminaries of the era such as Keith Haring and Kenny Scharf, were only recently unpacked now that the home is to be sold to settle the estate, as Mrs. Gould passed away in Dec. 2016. Jon, Harriett’s son, not only ran in the same circles as Warhol and Basquiat, he was a close friend and confidante of both artists.
Offered will be an intentionally broken stretched canvas abstraction-painting-turned-sculpture by Warhol, signed “Jon / Andy Warhol ‘83”; a copy of Warhol’s book Exposures, twice-signed by him; an aluminum sculpture by Warhol, signed to Jon; a stitched charcoal and wove paper, also signed to Jon; a nine-print photographic stitch collage by Warhol; and one of Warhol’s iconic Marilyn images.
Jon Gould died at age 33 on Sept. 18, 1986, six months prior to Warhol. Jon led a double life of sorts, one with Andy in New York City and another in his work life in Los Angeles. He held a high-power corporate job as vice president at Paramount Pictures in Hollywood. But in his other life, he was a major part of the ‘80s New York pop art scene, where he cultivated an intimate relationship with Warhol and his circle.
John McInnis Auctioneers is the largest full-service auction house on Boston’s North Shore. The firm’s 12,000-square-foot gallery is a 1930s brick Art Deco building that once housed a grocery store. A full staff of experts is proficient in 18th, 19th and 20th century fine and decorative arts.
To learn more about John McInnis Auctioneers and the auctions planned for December 1st and 2nd, please log on to www.mcinnisauctions.com
