Andy Warhol's College Paintings to Be Auctioned by His Nephews

The family of Andy Warhol will auction a group of paintings created by the artist during his college years. The works, whose estimated values have not been disclosed, will be sold by his seven nephews—the children of Warhol's brother Paul Warhola—who inherited them from their parents, who died between 2014 and 2016. James Warhola, one of the brothers and a noted children's book illustrator, told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review that the sale is necessary to divide the estate and provide financial benefit to the family. Ten of the fourteen surviving works from that period will be sold, some previously exhibited at the Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh and in the traveling show "Andy Warhol: Lifetimes." The plan is to sell the two most important pieces first, starting in November, followed by two more every six months. The highlights are the humorous portrait "Nosepicker 1" (1948) and the canvas "Living Room" (1947), which, along with still lifes and landscapes, are far removed from the Pop art silkscreens for which Warhol is famous. All works were produced while Warhol studied at the Carnegie Institute of Technology (now Carnegie-Mellon University) between 1945 and 1949 and left in the family home in Oakland. According to the family's website, Paul saved them from being thrown away when his brother graduated and moved to New York.