Photo Feature

Different strokes

American artist Andy Warhol is the new favourite among art collectors

Pablo Picasso is now passé. The Spanish great has been pipped at the post by contemporary icon Andy Warhol in terms of art sales, with competition for the most expensive segment of the market spurring global figures by 10% to $16 billion. Collectors reportedly bought 1,295 works of the deceased artist (worth a combined $800 million), ahead of sales for Picasso. Annual art sales have more than doubled from $6.3 billion in 2009 and the premium that Warhol commanded was evident in Picasso’s figures as well: 2,820 of his works fetched a combined $449 million. Guess Warhol’s finally enjoying his fifteen minutes of fame.