Luxe Life Blog

Strip Scribbles: Will Steve Wynn’s paintings fetch $50 million at auction?

Posted November 1, 2010 • 5:04 p.m.

Steve Wynn and Andrea Hissom on the Andre Agassi Grand Slam red carpet at the Wynn on Oct. 9, 2010.

Photo: Tom Donoghue/DonoghuePhotography.com

If the New York auction houses are correct, the sale by casino mogul Steve Wynn of two prized Pop Art paintings for $50 million Nov. 10 might signal that the high-end art market has rebounded from the dismal economy. Steve has up for an auction a Roy Lichtenstein painting titled Ohhh-Alright and a portrait of himself with Andy Warhol painted in 1982 by artist Jean-Michel Basquiat. Both paintings go under the hammer at Christie’s International.

Lichtenstein’s painting of a comely redhead sighing on a phone might go for $40 million, according to art experts. That would surpass the artist’s $16.3 million record. The Basquiat portrait is estimated to go for $10 million. Two weeks of November art auctions in Manhattan start tomorrow, and the works for sale have an estimated total value of $1.5 billion. The estate of our late pal Dennis Hopper -- he was chairman of the annual CineVegas Film Festival -- also is selling his collection, which includes a 1971 blue hat portrait of the actor painted by Warhol, and it’s expected to sell for more than $1 million. A black-and-white 1962 Warhol titled Men in Her Life, featuring Elizabeth Taylor’s romantic conquests, is estimated to fetch $40 million.

*A $300,000 wax replica of Twilight star Robert Pattinson will be unveiled at Madame Tussauds at The Venetian on Wednesday for a monthlong engagement. “We are thrilled to feature Robert Pattinson at our attraction for this special limited engagement,” Madame Tussauds General Manager Rosita Chapman said in a statement. “As one of the premiere actors in films today, he is a figure that will be popular among our younger movie fans.”

*Las Vegas magician Murray Sawchuck, who made it through to the semifinals of this year’s America’s Got Talent, is guest starring as of tomorrow for the rest of the week in Nathan Burton’s show at Flamingo. I’m hearing very heavy reliable rumors that he will be one of the headline stars appearing in a new variety show set for Excalibur early next year.

*Watch for upcoming TV appearances by Iron Chef Kerry Simon when Hell’s Kitchen cameras take over his L.A. Market at the JW Marriott Los Angeles and chef Gordon Ramsay picks Kerry’s next executive chef. Geechy Guy, who is winning big audiences for his comedy standup act at Hooters Casino, was chosen to record The Late Late Show with host Craig Ferguson tomorrow.

*Six military men on an amazing mission to cross 3,350 miles across America in just eight weeks arrive tonight at Fremont Street Experience. The coast-to-coast marathon covers 16 to 22 miles each day through 16 states, three deserts, 10 mountain ranges and four time zones. What’s incredible here is that one is a triple-amputee veteran who makes it 1 mile a day. They’ll stay the night at the Hard Rock Hotel before continuing to the West Coast tomorrow. For more on the Gumpathon, to raise funds for wounded veterans, go to Gumpathon.com.

Star surveillance

Sharon Osbourne’s new CBS daytime series The Talk featured Paris headliner Barry Manilow and his music instrument donation program to public schools. The episode today included video of Barry’s recent donation in Las Vegas. Tera Patrick was spotted at Sushi Roku for dinner with a gal pal in The Forum Shops at Caesars Palace. Rex Lee, Jeremy Piven’s assistant Lloyd on HBO’s Entourage, dined with a friend at Todd English P.U.B in MGM CityCenter’s Crystals. New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez was spotted at Haze in Aria and then the next night at XS, where separately actor Dan Aykroyd took in the Halloween festivities. Comedy actor Pauly Shore watched Vegas! The Show at Planet Hollywood’s Miracle Mile before hitting Moon and Rain in the Palms. Ray Romano treated 10 friends to dinner at Japonais in The Mirage.

Tonight’s tips

Award-winning chef David Walzog opens Lakeside Grill, his second restaurant at the Wynn. Crown Theater at The Rio is the new home for the show featuring The Platters, The Marvelettes and The Cornell Gunter Coasters. XS in Encore is throwing X-Hibition Halloween Party to wrap up Halloween.

Tomorrow’s teases

Our dance floor photo report of the 200th Dancing With the Stars show as 50 previous celebrity contestants enjoy a reunion over the 11-season celebration. Plus, an advance look at the 20th Annual Taste of the NFL for Super Bowl weekend with Las Vegas chefs taking part. We also welcome to town one of the largest annual conventions, as more than 100,000 delegates for SEMA gather for the automotive extravaganza of the year.

Robin Leach has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past decade giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground.

Follow Robin Leach on Twitter at Twitter.com/Robin_Leach.

Follow Vegas DeLuxe on Twitter at Twitter.com/vegasdeluxe.

Follow VDLX Editor Don Chareunsy on Twitter at Twitter.com/VDLXEditorDon.

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