KEITH HARING’S UNTITLED (1984) WILL BE THE FIRST TANGIBLE ARTWORK TO BE OFFERED BY A MAJOR AUCTION HOUSE IN EUROPE WITH THE OPTION OF PAYING THE FINAL PURCHASE PRICE IN CRYPTOCURRENCY

KEITH HARING’S UNTITLED (1984) WILL BE THE FIRST TANGIBLE ARTWORK TO BE OFFERED BY A MAJOR AUCTION HOUSE IN EUROPE WITH THE OPTION OF PAYING THE FINAL PURCHASE PRICE IN CRYPTOCURRENCY

PART OF THE LONDON TO PARIS SALE SERIES TAKING PLACE ON 30 JUNE 2021

• Keith Haring’s Untitled (1984, estimate: £3,900,000-4,500,000) was created in 1984 at the dawn of the digital era, and is one of the earliest depictions of a computer in a painting
• Untitled was originally owned by the German gallerist Paul Maenz, one of the most influential gallerists of his generation who introduced new waves of Avant-garde artists to both European and American audiences in the 1970s and 80s
• The London to Paris livestreamed sale series, incorporating Christie’s salerooms in Hong Kong and New York, will encompass the 20^th/21^st Century: London Evening Sale, 20^th/21^st Century: Collection Francis Gross, and the 20^th/21^st Century: Paris vente du soir

Keith Haring, Untitled (1984, estimate: £3,900,000-4,500,000)
acrylic on canvas, in four parts: each: 60 x 60in. overall: 120 x 120in

London – Christie’s will be the first major auction house in Europe to offer a work with the option for the buyer to pay the final purchase price, including Buyer’s Premium, in cryptocurrency. The sale of Keith Haring’s Untitled (1984, estimate: £3,900,000-4,500,000) will also mark the first time that a tangible work of art is being offered in Europe by an auction house with the option to pay in cryptocurrency. Originally owned by the celebrated German gallerist Paul Maenz, who unveiled the work in Cologne shortly after its creation, Untitled prophesises the dawn of a new era. Dating from 1984, the year that the first Apple Macintosh was released, it stands among the earliest painterly depictions of a computer, heralding the birth of the digital age.

Katharine Arnold, Co-Head, Post-War and Contemporary Art, Christie’s Europe: “Christie’s has been pioneering the sale of digital artworks and use of cryptocurrencies throughout 2021. It is fitting that we are set to become the first auction house in Europe to offer the option to pay the final purchase price in cryptocurrency via the sale of Keith Haring’s Untitled, which anticipated the digital era as early as 1984. This exquisite painting is one of the earliest depictions of the home computer, Apple having marketed their first at-home product earlier the same year. It celebrates a futuristic vision and we are thrilled to present the work as a highlight of our international London to Paris sale series.”