Damien Hirst paints George Michael portrait for MTV RE:DEFINE charity auction

Damien Hirst has produced a new portrait of George Michael utilizing his renowned Spin Painting method, which will be auctioned during MTV RE:DEFINE in Dallas on March 24-25, 2017. This event, initiated in 2011 by the MTV Staying Alive Foundation alongside the Goss-Michael Foundation, aims to generate funds for HIV/AIDS prevention efforts. The portrait carries an estimated value of $200,000-$300,000, starting at $180,000, and is part of a collection featuring 69 other artists, including Shepard Fairey, Michaël Borremans, and Bruce Weber. George Michael passed away on December 25, 2016, at the age of 53 due to natural causes linked to heart disease and an enlarged liver. His funeral is being arranged at Highgate Cemetery in London, where his mother, Lesley Angold, is interred. The Goss-Michael Foundation, founded in 2007 by George Michael and Kenny Goss, showcases works by British artists like Tracey Emin and Marc Quinn.