Dennis Hopper art collection up for auction in New York

[Geee]

UK Telegraph:

Dennis Hopper shot two bullet holes through an Andy Warhol portrait of Mao Tse-tung but instead of earning the wrath of the artist, Warhol called the 'Easy Rider' star a collaborator.


Warhol's "Mao" is among 300 works of fine art and memorabilia owned by the late actor-director of the 1969 counterculture film up for auction at Christie's next week. The 1972 coloured screen print is expected to bring $20,000 (£13,000) to $30,000 (£19,000).
Most of the items adorned the actor's Venice Beach, California, home.

Hopper, who was twice nominated for Oscars and earned a star last year on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, died of prostate cancer at his home in May. He was 74.

The actor/director was already stricken with cancer when he attended the ceremony for the unveiling of his commemorative star. The framed plaque of the star that Hopper received as a memento of the event is being sold next week for an estimated $1,000 to $1,500.

Hopper began collecting in the 1960s after the venerable actor, Vincent Price, himself an avid collector of Impressionist art, told him: "You need to collect, this is where you need to put your money," said Cathy Elkies, Christie's director of iconic collections. "This really was his calling."