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Sotheby’s is auctioning a self-portrait painted by David Bowie in 1996, which has remained in the same collection since it was given to his gallerist. The piece, described as “striking and personal,” includes handprints pressed onto the composition, creating an intimate connection to the artist. Sotheby’s notes that only two other Bowie self-portraits have been auctioned previously, making this one of the most direct and vividly colored portraits available at auction.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-09,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Sotheby’s is set to auction off a 1996 self-portrait by David Bowie, who passed away at age 69 on January 10, 2016. Painted during a prolific period of the mid-1990s, this piece has remained in the same collection since Bowie gave it to his St Ives gallerist. Sotheby’s describes it as “one of the most striking and personal self-portraits by David Bowie ever to appear at auction,” noting that it features Bowie’s likeness alongside two handprints pressed directly onto the composition, creating an intimate connection with the viewer.
The auction house highlights how the piece prominently displays Bowie's asymmetric eyes while emphasizing its rarity due to limited documentation about his painting practice. Only two other Bowie self-portraits have been sold at auction previously, making this one exceptionally rare and noteworthy. Auctioneers predict it could sell for around £55k.
Written for “Bowie Self Portrait Auction” on 2026-10-09,
grounded in this article and the 1 other(s) covering the same event.
Sotheby’s said a self-portrait painted in 1996 by the musician, who died aged 69 on January 10 2016 after an 18-month battle with cancer, will go on sale next week.
asserted
who → say → sale
The piece was “created during a prolific period of painting in the mid-1990s and belongs to a small group of portrait heads produced at that time”, the auction house said.
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house → create → time
After Bowie gave the piece to his St Ives gallerist, it has remained in the same collection ever since.
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it → give → collection
Sotheby’s described the work, produced on paper, as “one of the most striking and personal self-portraits by David Bowie ever to appear at auction”.
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Sotheby → describe → auction
It said the piece not only features Bowie’s own likeness, but two handprints that he pressed directly on to the composition.
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he → say → composition
Sotheby’s said: “Staring directly out at the viewer, Bowie prominently displays his famously asymmetric eyes, while the handprints in the lower corners create an unusually intimate connection to the artist.
“More than a self-portrait, it’s arguably the closest thing to a physical trace of Bowie himself that a collector could own.”
uncertain
collector → say → that
It added that the work was “particularly noteworthy” as “very little” has been published about Bowie’s painting practice.
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little → add → practice
Sotheby’s said: “There is no catalogue raisonne or definitive record of this body of work.
“
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Sotheby → say → work
As a result, examples appearing at auction are exceptionally rare.
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examples → appear → auction
“In fact, only two Bowie self-portraits have previously come to auction.
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portraits → come → auction
“Compared to those works, this piece is remarkably direct in its gaze, more vividly coloured and arguably far more commanding in its presence, making it one of the strongest Bowie self-portraits to emerge publicly to date.”
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it → compare → date
Bowie’s longtime art adviser and curator Kate Chertavian said: “Though David’s love of the visual arts has been widely celebrated, his life as a painter remains relatively unknown.
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life → say → painter
“So here we get a rare glimpse of David as a visual artist in his own right.
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we → get → right
“I was very much part of his world when he created the series of eight self-portraits to which this work belongs.
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work → create → which
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“He painted them in London – sometimes at a studio in my house, and sometimes in his hotel rooms.
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He → read → rooms
“He was prolific, producing prints as well as paintings, but these self-portraits are among my favourites – they capture the essence of David.
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they → produce → David
He released his final album, Blackstar, on his 69th birthday, two days before his death in 2016.
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He → release → 2016
It became his first album to reach number one in the US, topped charts in more than 20 countries, and won five Grammy Awards.
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It → become → Awards
Last week it was announced that a series of special events, releases, collaborations and fan experiences had been launched around the world to mark what would have been his 80th birthday on January 8 next year.
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what → announce → January
Titled Bowie80, organisers say the events will acknowledge how Bowie’s impact can still be “seen, heard and felt across all forms of art and in mainstream and outsider culture spanning both the 20th and 21st centuries”.
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impact → title → centuries
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