Fall Auction Preview

SOTHEBY’S
Established 1744

Fall Auction Preview

“Rare and Fine MultiMedia Works of Art by Hunter Biden”

Selected from a variety of Global collections

LOT 1 “The (Out) Stretched Hand Series 1: Rolex”

Mixed media, paper, oil, fabric, and pastel on panel. 

The work depicts an outstretched hand in papier-mâché relief, extending beyond the picture plane in an arresting gesture. At first the hand seems to be grasping in a “give me some money” gesture, but as the eye takes in the dimensionality of the forms and the subtle wrinkling of the skin and knuckles, the gesture takes on a more pleading and desperate overtone. The “Rolex” on the wrist is from the artist’s own collection.

Part of a series from the artist’s “Consultant” period, this work is the first of a longer set of multimedia/multidimensional works. “The (Out) Stretched Hand Series 2: Patek Philippe” and “The (Out) Stretched Hand Series 3: Vacheron Constantin,” both of which are in the permanent collection of the Museum of Contemporary Art in Kyiv, Ukraine.

Estimate: $1,000,000–$1,500,000

LOT 2 “Father Phone Father Fund”

Non-fungible token. URL link to JPEG.

The work exists entirely in the digital space and consists of a seven-digit “code” which when purchased will continually update itself and always reflect the current mobile phone number of the artist’s father, who at the time of this sale is the president of the United States. This bold work reflects the artist’s investigation into the nature of “access” and “influence” in current American (and global) politics, and calls into question the ideas of identity, parenthood, and power. The work is presented as a non-fungible token and will be registered on the blockchain to one (1) purchaser. Terms of sale require that the purchaser and only the purchaser may use the number for direct access to the president of the United States to create a unique and private “art event.”

Estimate: $8,500,000–$10,000,000

(Note: It is possible that the artist will “create” more “Father Phone Father Fund” NFTs during the sale itself.)

LOT 3 “Gene Yes Bar”

Installation in wood, laminate, display glass, and laptop computers.

A challenging and powerful sculptural installation of a long blond-wood table piled high with broken and cracked MacBook Pro computers. Each computer is powered up, with a fragmented and almost-legible screen depicting scenes from the artist’s childhood, his brief stint in the United States military, intimate and sexual moments from his recent past, and scrolls of personal email and iMessage exchanges with international business associates, prostitutes of Russian nationality, and close relatives including the artist’s father. This is a powerful and brave work that forces the viewer to confront issues of vulnerability, substance abuse, and tax avoidance.

Estimate: $4,000,000–$4,500,000

LOT 4 “Dream Girl House of Cards”

Plastic, magnetic stripe, lucite.

A shimmering, life-size, and life-like depiction of a beautiful woman made up entirely of hotel key cards from the Royal Sonesta Hotel in Baku, Azerbaijan, and the Shangri-La Hotel & Resort in Shenyang, People’s Republic of China. All keys from the artist’s own collection. The plastic sheen of the key cards gives the work a haunting and resonant quality that questions the notions of “hospitality” and the transactional nature of modern travel. Every card but one has been deactivated, and the owner of the work is encouraged to discern which card, for which hotel, will provide access to another work entirely – a living installation wherein the purchaser and the artist will collaborate with others to create an “art happening” in a foreign hotel room.

Estimate: $3,000,000–$3,250,000 

(Note: Purchaser is liable for all subsequent hotel, travel, and entertainment charges for both purchaser’s party and the artist.)

LOT 5 “Eye of the Big Guy, Blue”

Oil on panel, glycerine, mechanical devices, word- and image-recognition apparatus.

A detailed study of the left eye of the artist’s father in oil on panel. To the lower left, a “working” tear duct reacts as the viewer examines the work. Sometimes the tear duct will expel small droplets of glycerine-based “tears” – such as when the viewer holds up a photograph of the artist or uses his name near the artwork, within range of the word- and image-recognition apparatus. Other times, when the viewer displays American currency in denominations of $100 or more, the tears will automatically disappear and the eye will shift slightly as if smiling. This emotional, kinetic work investigates the concepts of love and money.

Estimate: $1,750,000–$2,250,000

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