Andy Warhol — Moonwalk For Sale

Andy Warhol: Moonwalk Series

Series Performance Opening

The Moonwalk series represents one of Warhol's final major print achievements and has emerged as a commanding presence in the secondary market. Recent auction activity demonstrates sustained institutional and private demand. Trial Proof TP 6/66 followed an identical pattern, realising $516,000 and $412,800 respectively. Trial Proof TP 1/66 matched these figures precisely, confirming consistent price thresholds across the trial proof segment.

These results must be contextualised against Warhol's unprecedented market strength. Christie's achieved $195,040,000 for Shot Sage Blue Marilyn in May 2022—the highest price ever recorded for a 20th-century artwork at auction. Mao F.S. II.96 and II.97 each brought $4,648,000 at Christie's in May 2025, while Sotheby's sold Flowers works for $4,076,000 and $3,832,000 that same month. The Moonwalk trial proofs, trading between $400,000 and $520,000, occupy a strategic position: accessible relative to seven-figure Warhol icons yet scarce enough to command serious collector attention.

Technical & Historical Context

Warhol created the Moonwalk series in 1987, the year before his death, drawing from NASA's iconic photograph of astronaut Buzz Aldrin on the lunar surface during the Apollo 11 mission. , New York, published the edition, with Rupert Jasen Smith executing the printing on Lenox Museum Board at 38 x 38 inches.

The numbered edition comprises 160 impressions plus 31 artist's proofs. Beyond this standard edition, 66 unique trial proofs exist, each printed in a distinct colour combination—making every trial proof a singular work rather than one impression among many identical prints.

Warhol's selection of the moon landing as subject matter connects to his career-long engagement with American mythology and media spectacle. Where earlier series immortalised celebrities and consumer products, Moonwalk elevated a technological achievement into the same visual vocabulary. The series stands as Warhol's meditation on heroism, national identity, and the transformation of documentary photography into cultural iconography.

Individual Works

The trial proofs command particular attention from collectors seeking uniqueness within Warhol's systematic print practice. TP 1/66 carries inherent significance as the first in the sequence—a factor that consistently influences competitive bidding. TP 35/66 and TP 6/66 have both demonstrated robust auction performance, each achieving the $516,000 threshold in recent sales.

Our observations across nearly 500 Warhol transactions indicate that collectors increasingly prioritise trial proofs over standard edition impressions. The guarantee of a unique colour combination appeals to buyers who want definitive Warhol works without competing for paintings that now routinely exceed eight figures.

TP 47/66 and TP 32/66 present compelling acquisition opportunities for collectors building comprehensive Warhol holdings. TP 18/66 and TP 41/66 similarly warrant consideration, particularly as available inventory across the 66 trial proofs continues to consolidate into long-term collections.

The synthetic polymer paint on paper work measuring 32 by 24 inches offers a different category entirely—a unique piece rather than a print multiple. Such works appeal to collectors prioritising medium over edition structure, though availability remains extremely limited.

Authentication & Condition

Moonwalk authentication follows a rigorous multi-party verification structure. Each trial proof bears the artist's printed signature on the recto, with pencil inscriptions indicating the specific trial proof number within the 66-impression sequence. Critical authentication markers appear on the verso: signatures from Frederick Hughes as executor of the Andy Warhol Estate, publisher Ronald Feldman, and printer Rupert Jasen Smith. Blindstamps from both printer and publisher provide additional physical verification.

Condition assessment for works on Lenox Museum Board focuses on surface integrity, colour stability, and sheet flatness. Minor surface scuffs, as noted in some cataloguing, typically have limited market impact provided they fall outside primary image areas. Framing history matters considerably—works maintained in archival conditions with UV-protective glazing demonstrate superior colour retention compared to those exposed to direct light.

Collectors should request full provenance documentation and condition reports prior to acquisition. Guy Hepner provides comprehensive verification services for all Moonwalk works offered through our inventory, ensuring authentication standards meet institutional collecting requirements.

Acquiring Moonwalk Works

Guy Hepner maintains active inventory and sourcing capabilities across the Moonwalk series. Contact our New York team directly to discuss current availability, commission acquisitions from our collector network, or review condition documentation on specific works. Guy Hepner's established relationships within the Warhol collector community position us to facilitate acquisitions efficiently and discreetly.

Warhol's Broader Practice

This series belongs to the vast and varied body of print and painted work Warhol produced across five decades, during which he moved fluidly between celebrity portraiture, consumer product imagery, historical appropriation, and personal or commissioned subject matter — all filtered through the same signature screenprint process that flattened the distinction between mechanical reproduction and fine art. Warhol's insistence on treating commercial printing techniques as a primary artistic medium, rather than a secondary reproductive tool, remains one of the most influential positions in postwar American art.

Warhol's work is held in the permanent collections of major museums worldwide, including the Museum of Modern Art, the Whitney Museum of American Art, Tate Modern, and the Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh, which maintains the most complete public archive of his output across all periods and subjects.