The July announcement from a Las Vegas-based auction house that it will be auctioning off several dozen of Micheal Jackson’s signed drawings to the highest bidder is being called into question by the late pop superstar’s estate, which had the drawings examined years ago and has issued a “buyer beware” warning to potential bidders.
The lot of 78 drawings, each of which is said to have been created by the music icon during downtime while touring the world, is set to be auctioned off on Aug. 3 by global firm King’s Auctions. Each of the drawings, the firm said in a press release obtained by The Hollywood Reporter, was signed by him — in theory, giving auction winners a piece of both the icon’s and pop music’s history.
However, a statement sent to THR just days before a scheduled auction from the public relations firm representing Jackson’s estate indicates that the drawings are not what they are being touted as.
“The Estate of Michael Jackson does not accept that this artwork was created by Michael Jackson,” Jonathan Steinsapir, counsel for the Estate of Michael Jackson, wrote in a statement. “Our representatives examined this artwork several years ago while it was being stored in a hangar at the Santa Monica airport, and the inspection only raised further concerns. We have made this clear to the auction house and others many times since. The Estate asked for evidence that these works were in fact created by Michael, and no sufficient evidence has ever been produced. Caveat emptor.”
On its website, Kings Auctions includes a statement indicating that the auction is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Jackson estate and that the auction is court-mandated by the city of Santa Monica.
“This auction includes art lots only and does not include IP or copyrights,” the house states.
According to Steinsapir, the pictures have been stashed in a hangar at Santa Monica Airport for years. They are the property of Australian artist Brett-Livingstone Strong, who had been friends with Jackson in his final years. Recently, a California court ordered Strong’s collection sold at auction — despite Jackson’s estate not being convinced of its authenticity. Evidence does support the fact that Jackson gave some artworks to Strong; Kings has letters from Jackson regarding artworks, though nothing specific to the pictures up for auction.
“We can’t say for sure,” Steinsapir told THR. “We’re not saying they’re fake. We’re just saying we have concerns.”
King’s Auctions responded via a public relations representative on Thursday in an email to The Hollywood Reporter, suggesting that bad blood that goes back over a decade between Strong and Jackson’s estate led to the statement from Steinsapir.
“The attorney for the Estate of Michael Jackson has confirmed in writing to King’s Auctions’ counsel that the Estate’s position is their opinion only, and they have no factual basis upon which to dispute the authenticity of the artwork,” Kings Auctions wrote in the statement. “It is unknown why the Estate would continue to issue this unsupported opinion, which might easily be misinterpreted by the public as a statement of fact. There appear to be substantial hard feelings between the seller of the artwork and the Estate that have existed for more than a decade, which may or may not be a motivating factor in the opinion’s being shared with the media by the Estate’s attorney just prior to the auction”
King’s Auctions said in a press release that the work up for auction was “influenced by many art genres, from classical and architectural to pop art and even formal portraiture. He also had a great fondness for London and British customs.” The unique auction’s Lot #1 — with an opening bid of $1 million — is said to be for the full collection of 78 pieces. King’s Auctions said that if the reserve price is met, the event will be over and the complete collection will go to the winning bidder. However, if the reserve isn’t met, the auction will revert to the standard piece-by-piece protocol.
On Thursday, Kings Auctions’ website has this weekend’s Michael Jackson art auction prominently displayed on its homepage, indicating an estimated $12 million total for the works on the low estimate and the high estimate at $30 million.
The auction is being conducted in association with King’s Los Angeles branch. Absentee and online live bidding is said to be available via LiveAuctioneers and preview exhibitions will be held in Beverly Hills and Las Vegas.
This story has been updated to include a response from Kings Auctions.
