CLEARWATER, FLA.- On January 25, 2025, Florida’s Blackwell Auctions will hold its first Exceptional Estates auction of the new year. The highlight of the sale is Lot 100: a signed and numbered Andy Warhol screenprint from his Ads series, depicting a Volkswagen Bug. Titled “Lemon,” this vibrant 1985 work measures 38 inches square, and is numbered 2 of 10 in Roman numerals (II/X). It will open for bidding at $50,000.


Joan Miro, etching/aquatint, signed and numbered. Image courtesy of Blackwell Auctions.

From the same Modern art collection comes Lot 50, Joan Miro’s Le Grand Ordinateur, signed in pencil and limited as HC. It measures 24 inches by 40 inches (sight size). Opening bid is $5,000.

Lot 25 is a Roy Lichtenstein screenprint titled “Musical Notes (Comp IV).” This circa 1995 work is signed and numbered 29/120, and it measures 21 inches by 15-1/2 inches (sight size). Opening bid is $4,000.


Peter Max, original acrylic painting. Image courtesy of Blackwell Auctions.

In addition to these, there are multiples by Alexander Calder, Salvador Dali and others. The sale also features original works by 20th century Cuban artists, such as Lolo Soldevilla, Sandu Darie, Wifredo Arcay and several others. The sale begins with a large, original acrylic painting on canvas (not a mixed media) by Peter Max.


Lolo Soldevilla, oil on canvas. Image courtesy of Blackwell Auctions.

(Online flipbook with sale highlights: https://publuu.com/flip-book/83345/1702503)

Edwin Bailey of Blackwell Auctions remarked, “It’s not often that a small, regional gallery has the privilege of offering so many important art pieces in a single sale. When a Warhol Volkswagen comes up at auction – which is maybe once a year, and always at a major house – it's numbered to 190.”

The January Exceptional Estates auction’s extensive selection of other fine-art pieces includes works – antique to contemporary – by Leroy Neiman, Baldomero Romero Ressendi, Hiro Yamagata, Tony Hernandez, Thomas Lawrence, Gerda Gerdago, Michael Cartellone, Richard Stone Reeves, H.R. Giger, Jean St. Pierre and others.

A few other offerings are worth mentioning: An original Marilyn Monroe transparency by Andre de Dienes, an original negative of Audrey Hepburn by Bud Fraker, and an original test Polaroid shot of Michael Jackson for his “Thriller” album, the last available original photo from the historic session with celebrity photographer, Dick Zimmerman.


Alexander Calder, lithograph, “Spiral with Pumpkin,” signed. Image courtesy of Blackwell Auctions.

In-person inspection of the art is by appointment only. A public preview of all auction items will be held at Blackwell’s gallery on January 24 from 10-4 ET, as well as on the morning of the sale from 10am until the auction starts at 12 noon.

Blackwell is located at 5251 110th Avenue North, Suite 118, Clearwater, FL 33760.


Baldomero Romero Ressendi, oil on canvas. Image courtesy of Blackwell Auctions.

For additional information, contact Edwin Bailey at +1 727-546-0200 or email info@blackwellauctions.com. Visit Blackwell online at www.blackwellauctions.com. Bidding will be available in person at the gallery, by phone, absentee, or online through LiveAuctioneers, Invaluable, Bidsquare, HiBid or through the Blackwell Auctions app (IOS and Android).