John McEnroe sells Mansoninspired artwork for US$10.4m

JOHN McEnroe sold a 34-footwide painting inspired by serial killer Charles Manson for US$10.4 million (RM40.7 million) on Thursday at a Phillips auction in London.

The retired tennis pro acquired “Helter Skelter I” in 2007. It’s the creation of Mark Bradford, a Los Angeles artist who represented the US last year at the Venice Biennial, one of the most prestigious international art exhibitions.

McEnroe, 59, whose Hall of Fame career included seven Grand Slam singles titles and epic on-court tirades, is a tennis analyst for ESPN. He’s also a frequent presence on the art circuit, appearing at fairs, auctions and openings.

Bradford, born in 1961, is the recipient of numerous awards, including the MacArthur Genius Grant in 2009. His annual sales at auction peaked at US$17.4 million in 2015, and dropped to US$6.9 million last year, according to Artprice.com. The final price for the work sold on Thursday was £8.7 million, which includes commission, surpassing the high estimate of £6 million.

The painting helped give Phillips, a smaller rival of Sotheby’s and Christie’s, its biggest single-auction total in the firm’s history. The £97.8 million it brought in put Phillips close to the £109.3 million that Sotheby’s rang up during a similar auction on Wednesday. The sale of Picasso’s 1932 “La Dormeuse” for £41.9 million, more than twice the highend estimate, was Phillips’ biggest triumph. — WPBloomberg