Press Release  June 18, 2019  Chandra Noyes

History in the Making: Gay Art and Icons at Auction for Pride Month

Courtesy of Swann Auction Galleries

Sunglasses from the archive of Candy Darling, 1950s-70s.

This month people around the world are celebrating Pride Month and the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising with parades, parties and protests. Swann Auction Galleries has a unique way to mark this auspicious occasion: by adding a piece of LBGTQ+ history to your collection. 

With over 250 lots going up at auction on June 20, the inaugural Pride Sale has important works of art and literature, as well as memorabilia related to nearly every gay icon you can think of. Below is a sampling of the objects being offered, showing a breadth of creative works and historical impact that is certainly something to be proud of.

Gerda Wegener, Two Women in a Window, watercolor, crayon, charcoal & wash, circa 1920.
Courtesy of Swann Auction Galleries

Gerda Wegener (1886 - 1940) was a Danish illustrator and painter working in Art Nouveau and Art Deco styles. Her illustrations of chic young women graced the pages of many magazines, showing bohemian youth at their most fashionable. Her favorite model was her spouse, Lili Elbe, whom she married as a man in 1904. Their love story and Lili's transition is the subject of the book and film The Danish Girl. Since their lifetimes her work and their story has had a cult following.

Gerda Wegener, Two Women in a Window, watercolor, crayon, charcoal & wash, circa 1920.

Estimate $15,000 to $25,000.

see more items in this auction
About the Author

Chandra Noyes

Chandra Noyes is the former Managing Editor for Art & Object.

Tags
LGBTQ Artists
Swann Auction Galleries
auction
Pride

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