UK man buys earliest Warhol Pop Art work for $5?

A British businessman has discovered what could be the earliest piece of Andy Warhol's 'Pop Art' ever found.

A British businessman has discovered what could be the earliest piece of Andy Warhol's "Pop Art" ever found.

An art expert told the U.K.'s ITN that the $5 bargain could be worth millions, if it's authenticated.


Channel 4 News in the U.K. reported that the painting was bought by Andy Fields, of Devon, in Las Vegas, from a drug user whose aunt cared for Warhol as a child. It said the picture had been valued at more than $2 million.

Warhol was supposed to have made the work when he was just 10 or 11 in the 1930s, Channel 4 said.

NBC News partner ITN in London contributed to this report.

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Discuss this post

$5 from a drug user? This guy is scum for taking advantage of the weak.

  • 4 votes
Reply#1 - Mon Apr 2, 2012 11:05 AM EDT

Nonsense. 1st-- it was concealed when purchased no one could have guessed what was there, 2nd-- the junkie stole it anyway(they steal everything), 3rd-- 'the weak' self destruct on and waist all money they touch. Finder saved the junkies life!

  • 5 votes
#1.1 - Mon Apr 2, 2012 11:18 AM EDT

Sure, let the junkie shoot $2 million in his arm, or snort it up his nose. Advantage of the weak? What a laugh.

  • 7 votes
#1.2 - Mon Apr 2, 2012 11:53 AM EDT

I have an original toilet roll that Warhol wiped his butt with. Any takers?

  • 1 vote
#1.3 - Mon Apr 2, 2012 1:05 PM EDT

$5! Thats more than I would pay for it.

  • 1 vote
#1.4 - Mon Apr 2, 2012 1:09 PM EDT

I have a copy of "Amy Vanderbilt's COMPLETE COOKBOOK" that contains illustrations by Andrew Warhol; copyright 1961 by Amy Vanderbilt; printed by Doubleday.

I will sell this for a few million.

Seriously, does anyone know if this is a valuable book? The recipes aren't very good, but he drawings are cool.

    #1.5 - Mon Apr 2, 2012 1:22 PM EDT

    That is worth 2 million? Those people are nuts. It looks like $5 no matter who did it.

      #1.6 - Mon Apr 2, 2012 11:26 PM EDT
      Reply

      Five dollars? He paid too much. Looks like something my kid did in third grade art class.

      • 5 votes
      Reply#2 - Mon Apr 2, 2012 11:29 AM EDT

      If it is a Warhol, it's a significant find, but you're not smart enough to know that.

      Stick to your area of expertise and keep collecting dried cow patties... maybe they'll be worth something one day.

      • 8 votes
      #2.1 - Mon Apr 2, 2012 12:45 PM EDT

      Warhols crap never did anything for me either. The druggie got a good deal as far as I'm concerned

      • 1 vote
      #2.2 - Mon Apr 2, 2012 1:15 PM EDT

      If it is a Warhol, it's a significant find, but you're not smart enough to know that.

      This jink only has value because ignorant elitist fools will pay for it. All it takes is for a few socialites to comment on it and then the 'poser" egotists jump on it.

      Its junk!

      • 5 votes
      #2.3 - Mon Apr 2, 2012 2:00 PM EDT

      (((I find many of these posts quite entertaining))) It is worth millions IF that's what some one will pay for it. "Elitist fools"??? Curious how it is the current fad to disrespect elites--Really we DO WANT ELITES representing us at the Olympic Games, running our Corporations, and yes--even representing us in the White House.....none of us benefit when Joe 6-pack takes the helm including Mr. Beer Belly. As for ppl whom appreciate art, perhaps some of you should try to understand what it is that some 'elites' see that you don't?

      • 2 votes
      #2.4 - Mon Apr 2, 2012 3:06 PM EDT
      Reply

      andy warhol was a fake artist. he just took photos of people & changed a few colors around & printed his art. what he did is what screen printers do every day in america.

      • 9 votes
      Reply#3 - Mon Apr 2, 2012 11:41 AM EDT

      And you do not consider the graphic design of screen printers to be art? Graphic design wouldn't be where it is today without the works of Warhol and alike. You may not like his work, but there is no denying that it is art and was of major significance to what has followed since.

      • 6 votes
      #3.1 - Mon Apr 2, 2012 12:04 PM EDT

      You really don't know what you're talking about.

      • 2 votes
      #3.2 - Mon Apr 2, 2012 12:11 PM EDT

      If he was actually a fake, then he still should be recognized as one of the greatest and most influential fakes in the history of modern times. Even if he intended to pull one over on everyone, he did so and still managed to change how art was and how it would ever be looked at again. I find it hilarious that he's "doing the same this any old screen printer does today" yet no screen printer today has even 1/1000th the importance to the art scene as Warhol did at his time. It's been said that Warhol's best piece of art was Warhol himself...and even if that's the case, it doesn't change the fact that his art changed art forever.

      • 2 votes
      #3.3 - Mon Apr 2, 2012 12:15 PM EDT

      Ah, the never-ending 'art vs. not art' debate.

        #3.4 - Mon Apr 2, 2012 12:55 PM EDT

        Now that's funny! It appears you have (unwittingly?) gotten the point. And guess what? Warhol would totally agree with you. Have you ever considered being an art critic?

        • 2 votes
        #3.5 - Mon Apr 2, 2012 2:40 PM EDT

        Romney is to Presidential what atch-a-sketch is to Art!

          #3.6 - Mon Apr 2, 2012 5:25 PM EDT
          Reply

          I had a friend got a wizzard of oz picture back from her ex for a bag of weed now worth many bags

          • 3 votes
          Reply#4 - Mon Apr 2, 2012 11:43 AM EDT

          Where would Campbell's Soup be today if it wasn't for Andy Warhol?

          • 1 vote
          Reply#5 - Mon Apr 2, 2012 12:12 PM EDT

          The same place they are in the market today. A leader in soup sales.

          • 5 votes
          #5.1 - Mon Apr 2, 2012 12:26 PM EDT

          Exactly!

            #5.2 - Mon Apr 2, 2012 12:28 PM EDT
            Reply

            For an icon, he sure was a pretty talentless fellow. Oh well, to each their own, The art world is filled with pretentious C's.

            • 3 votes
            Reply#6 - Mon Apr 2, 2012 12:48 PM EDT

            Pretentious cats?

            • 2 votes
            #6.1 - Mon Apr 2, 2012 1:52 PM EDT

            Close enough :)

              #6.2 - Mon Apr 2, 2012 4:01 PM EDT

              pretentious cookie-monsters?

              • 1 vote
              #6.3 - Mon Apr 2, 2012 4:14 PM EDT

              I think you should take your own advise about not commenting on things, of which, you know very little.

              • 1 vote
              #6.4 - Wed Apr 4, 2012 11:35 AM EDT
              Reply

              Warhol was not Andy Warhol's birth name. Warhola was the name he was born with and I can't find any record of him dropping the "a" until he was in college. Seems strange that this drawing which would have been done when he was 11 would be signed "Warhol". I am no expert but this casts serious doubt on the drawing's authenticity in my mind.

              • 3 votes
              Reply#7 - Mon Apr 2, 2012 1:15 PM EDT

              This is correct...it's BS, he was Warhola until after he wasn't doing ad art. Pittsburgh native I recall.

                #7.1 - Wed Apr 4, 2012 12:48 AM EDT
                Reply

                Cops should seize that picture for being part of a drug conspiracy... surprised they already haven't.

                  Reply#8 - Mon Apr 2, 2012 1:44 PM EDT

                  2.5 million??? That's a whole lot of Campbells Soup.

                  • 1 vote
                  Reply#9 - Mon Apr 2, 2012 1:47 PM EDT

                  This just goes to show you that this news station will put anything online. I know for a fact that the Warhola Family thought this drawing was an absolute fake, not even close to what Warhol would have done when he was a kid. There is no record of who he got it from but yet he says its real and he has an expert saying so. Apparently this man has the means to sell this ‘fake’ even when he was told it was not real from the Warhola family.

                  • 1 vote
                  Reply#10 - Mon Apr 2, 2012 2:05 PM EDT

                  Well face it, that's what Andy would have done, he was nothing if not a businessman. Maybe not a "real" artist, but colorful and creative and savvy to the market.

                    Reply#12 - Mon Apr 2, 2012 2:24 PM EDT

                    You just described Yoko Ono.

                    • 1 vote
                    #12.1 - Mon Apr 2, 2012 3:00 PM EDT
                    Reply

                    Even if it is by Warhol. Are we really gonna say it is a piece of his artwork? If he did it when he was ten, I mean its a good drawing of some guys head. But thats about it. And worth millions of course.

                      Reply#13 - Mon Apr 2, 2012 3:49 PM EDT

                      Warhol's work is terrible

                      • 1 vote
                      Reply#14 - Mon Apr 2, 2012 9:18 PM EDT

                      $2 million? Wish I had that much to splurge on a drawing . I would offer $5.50 to the new owner and hang it above my toilet as it does look like a younger lighter version of Obama, ears and all.

                        Reply#15 - Tue Apr 3, 2012 2:31 PM EDT

                        And everybody is believing the story of a druggie?? Ever think he sits in some run down hotel room with a box of crayons making pictures to sell for $5 each telling whatever story he can come up with to sell them?

                          Reply#16 - Tue Apr 3, 2012 2:34 PM EDT

                          Yeah..even if it's a real Warhol..its from his pre-pub period..no value as art..worth maybe 5 bucks...

                            Reply#17 - Wed Apr 4, 2012 12:41 AM EDT

                            That's even better than striking first prize at the best online bingo sites. Heck, maybe I should also start scavenging for rare treasures like these too. $_$

                              Reply#18 - Wed Apr 4, 2012 11:38 AM EDT
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