IRISH art can turn up in the most unexpected places. Like the Los Angeles home of Hollywood star, Dennis Hopper. Hopper had a major art collection at his home in the city’s Venice Beach area which was consigned to auction following his death last May.
In November, Christie’s New York sold some of his most valuable paintings – including works by Andy Warhol and Jean-Michel Basquiat – which made millions.
The remaining pictures, with rather more modest price tags, will be sold during the Christie's Interiorsauction, also in New York, next week. Among them are paintings by two US-based Irish artists.
Five works (with estimates ranging between $600 and $3,000) are by Patrick Morrison who was born in Cork in 1945, emigrated to the United States at the age of 19, and has since lived and painted in California.
Hopper was a fan but Morrison’s paintings have also reputedly been bought by other Hollywood personalities including Ben Kingsley, Nick Nolte, Faye Dunaway and George Lucas and by rock stars Mick Jagger and Bono.
Morrison occasionally returns to Ireland and has exhibited in Dublin, Waterford and Clonmel in recent years. In 2005, he designed the poster (based on one of his own paintings) for the 50th Cork Film Festival.
Dennis Hopper's other Irish painting is by Paul Joyce, a great-grand-nephew of James Joyce. Born in Dublin in 1970, he graduated from the National College of Art and Design, and now lives and paints in New York. For Lease Poinsettia Placehas a relatively modest estimate of $800-$1,200.
Online bidding is possible via the website, Christies.com
