David Bowie

The Artist, from whom acquired by

Henry Gilbert, Wills Lane Gallery, St Ives

Acquired from the above by the present owner in the 1990s

Anthony Wallersteiner, 'My Favourite Painting', Country Life, 18 September 2013, p.92, illustrated

This is the most striking and richly coloured self portrait by David Bowie ever to appear on the auction market. Completed in 1996, in the present lot he gazes out directly at the viewer, prominently displaying his famously asymmetric eyes, with one pupil much larger than the other, giving the impression of two different coloured irises. Even more personally, the work also features two handprints by the artist placed on either side in the lower corners of the work.

David Bowie drew on a rich number of artistic influences as a collector, artist and musician. One of his most creative and celebrated periods were his Berlin years (1976-1979), when he was immersed in the culture and produced a fantastic trio of albums: Low, Heroes and Lodger. In addition, he also collected German Expressionist Prints, and the Germanic influence comes across particularly strongly in this work. He was also inspired by and collected works by the School of London artists Leon Kossoff and Frank Auerbach, and the portrait subject - which fills the page - and expressive handling of the medium harks back to both of these artists. Sotheby's record-breaking sale of David Bowie's art collection, Bowie/Collector, held in these rooms in 2016, celebrated his incredible collection of predominantly Modern British Art and Memphis Design.