Art News

Gil Elvgren dominates in $3.725+ million Illustration Art event at Heritage Auctions as Fire Belle brings

NEW YORK, N.Y.- Gil Elvgren remains the unchallenged champion of American Pin-Up Art, as evidenced by the $191,200 price realized for his 1956 Fire Belle (Always Ready), one of the master’s greatest works, in Heritage Auctions‘ Oct. 22 Illustration Art Signature(r) Auction, and by the fact that fully six of the Top 10 lots in the auction featured his revered name. All prices include 19.5% Buyer’s Premium. Bidding across the board was spirited in the auction, as 1,192 bidders vied for 903 lots, with the $3,725+ million total in prices realized translating into a sell-through rate of 99% by value. “This was certainly one of our strongest Illustration sales ever, both in terms of the total and sell-through rate,” said Ed Jaster, Senior Vice President at Heritage. “The market is absolutely great for top quality work – each time a great example by virtually any pin-up artist came up, the bidding was