Rashid Johnson's The Barefoot Prophet emerges from a transformative staging of repurposed red oak flooring. The oak, marked by searing iron brandings, invokes a visceral connection to racial histories in America, as indelible scars that transcend the realm of aesthetics are etched. Johnson uses custom-made branding irons, adapted from the iconic symbol of the renowned rap group Public Enemy. For the group, the gun sight crosshair motif, which was prominently featured on their albums and merchandise, carries profound significance as a stark reminder of the racial targeting faced by Black Americans.

The charred wood is thickly layered with black soap and wax. Black soap, produced in West Africa and made from locally harvested plants and dried peels, is prized for its restorative and moisturizing properties. It is a substance intended for healing. Johnson’s swathing application of soap and wax down the center of the burnt canvas invokes an image of vain attempts to cover underlying scarring left from the brands. Yet, Johnson does not wish to push a specific meaning onto his viewer, instead inviting them to use their own experiences to create their own: “[My materials] come from personal experience and all have meanings and history for me, but they don’t mean the same thing to everyone. It’s interesting to see how different people see the same objects and create their own narratives and assign their own meanings.”ⁱ

Just as Johnson inspires the viewer to look within themself, so, too, did the subject for which this work, The Barefoot Prophet. Elder Clayborn Martin was born into slavery in the Blue Ridge Mountains in 1851 but lived most of his life as a traveling preacher. Martin Eventually made his way to Harlem, New York, where he earned the moniker The Barefoot Prophet — he had not worn shoes since a day in his youth when God told him to shed his shoes and walk on holy ground. Martin would spend his days preaching to his Harlem sidewalk audiences the truth of their inherent divinity: “Every man is the dwelling place of the Almighty! He is not in the buildings we call the churches today!”ⁱⁱ

The Barefoot Prophet caught the attention of photographer James Van Der Zee, who photographed a formal portrait of Martin inside of his Harlem studio. Van Der Zee, renowned not only for his photography of Black Americans during the Harlem Renaissance but also his comprehensive documentation of the period, had become a friend of Martin. He, along with other artists of the area, would eventually organize Martin’s funeral after his passing. Over 500 people from the neighborhood were in attendance.

In naming this work for Martin, and, by extension, Van Der Zee, we see a window into Johnson’s artistic reverence for the legacies of those who have profoundly shaped our cultural and spiritual landscapes. Johnson's choice to honor Martin and the photographer who captured his essence underscores his commitment to contextualizing his art within the rich tapestry of history and heritage. As Johnson puts it, “I come by this quite honestly. My mother’s a historian. I feel like my work is best suited when it’s contextualized. That way you can best understand the kind of conditions and concerns and obstacles and opportunities that my work provides.”ⁱⁱⁱ

ⁱ Rashid Johnson, quoted in Ange-Aimée Woods, "Five Questions: Brooklyn-based visual artist Rashid Johnson,” Colorado Public Radio News, February 21, 2014, online.

ⁱⁱ "Elder Clayhorn Martin ‘The Barefoot Prophet’ In Harlem 1851-1937," Harlem World, online.

ⁱⁱⁱ Rashid Johnson in Antwaun Sargent, “The Anxiety and Ecstacy of Rashid Johnson,” GQ, October 3, 2023, online.
- Provenance
  David Kordansky Gallery, Los Angeles
  Private Collection (acquired from the above)
  albertz benda, New York
  Acquired from the above by the present owner in 2017

332

Rashid Johnson

The Barefoot Prophet

branded red oak flooring, black soap, wax and spray enamel, in 3 parts
96 1/2 x 72 1/2 x 3 in. (245.1 x 184.2 x 7.6 cm)
Executed in 2013.

Full Cataloguing

Estimate
$120,000 - 180,000

Sold for $152,400

Contact Specialist

Patrizia Koenig
Specialist, Head of Sale, Afternoon Session
+1 212 940 1279
pkoenig@phillips.com

20th Century & Contemporary Art Day Sale, Afternoon Session

New York Auction 15 November 2023

301
Ilana Savdie
Deliberate Rotation of The Nips (y un Manguito)
Estimate $25,000 - 35,000
Sold for $69,850
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302
Caroline Kent
Out of the solitude and into the daydream
Estimate $40,000 - 60,000
Sold for $63,500
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303
Salvo
Se Elena mi chiede un quadro rosso tra zero e tutto questo è quello che posso
Estimate $60,000 - 80,000
Sold for $406,400
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304
Marina Perez Simão
Untitled
Estimate $40,000 - 60,000
Sold for $63,500
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305
Salvo
Prima primavera
Estimate $60,000 - 80,000
Sold for $495,300
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306
Jo Messer
Shifting into Five
Estimate $40,000 - 60,000
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307
Denzil Forrester
Dub Salute
Estimate $50,000 - 70,000
Sold for $63,500
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308
Henry Taylor
PAAK
Estimate $100,000 - 150,000
Sold for $177,800
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309
Celeste Rapone
Room with a View
Estimate $20,000 - 30,000
Sold for $57,150
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310
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311
Blair Whiteford
Mass Controller
Estimate $60,000 - 80,000
Sold for $63,500
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312
Francesca Mollett
Shuttle
Estimate $10,000 - 15,000
Sold for $49,530
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313
Naudline Pierre
BLT
Estimate $20,000 - 30,000
Sold for $50,800
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314
Elizabeth Glaessner
Bacchanal
Estimate $20,000 - 30,000
Sold for $24,130
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315
Henni Alftan
Collar
Estimate $30,000 - 40,000
Sold for $66,040
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316
Chase Hall
Jocko Where Grandpa Would Sit
Estimate $15,000 - 20,000
Sold for $38,100
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317
Jesse Mockrin
The dark-haired odalisque
Estimate $40,000 - 60,000
Sold for $107,950
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318
Allison Katz
Showery
Estimate $20,000 - 30,000
Sold for $63,500
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319
Henry Taylor
I Relate to Amy H
Estimate $60,000 - 80,000
Sold for $95,250
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320
Miriam Cahn
Ohne Titel
Estimate $70,000 - 100,000
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321
Louis Fratino
Big Tristan
Estimate $150,000 - 200,000
Sold for $152,400
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322
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323
Caroline Walker
Maid
Estimate $200,000 - 300,000
Sold for $355,600
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324
Matthew Wong
Blue Tree
Estimate $400,000 - 600,000
Sold for $431,800
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325
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326
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327
Anish Kapoor
Untitled
Estimate $400,000 - 500,000
Sold for $508,000
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328
Rudolf Stingel
Untitled
Estimate $250,000 - 350,000
Sold for $254,000
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329
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330
Rudolf Stingel
Untitled
Estimate $900,000 - 1,200,000
Sold for $723,900
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331
Rashid Johnson
Untitled Escape Collage
Estimate $600,000 - 800,000
Sold for $635,000
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332
Rashid Johnson
The Barefoot Prophet
Estimate $120,000 - 180,000
Sold for $152,400
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333
Titus Kaphar
Mother with Child
Estimate $100,000 - 150,000
Sold for $139,700
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334
Mark Bradford
Untitled
Estimate $150,000 - 200,000
Sold for $127,000
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335
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336
Pat Steir
Untitled
Estimate $120,000 - 180,000
Sold for $228,600
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337
Pat Steir
From Dark to Light (from the Waterfall series)
Estimate $400,000 - 600,000
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338
John Armleder
Amontilad
Estimate $60,000 - 80,000
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339
Yuan Fang
Corporeal Loop 03
Estimate $20,000 - 30,000
Sold for $57,150
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340
Kehinde Wiley
Passing/Posing (The Reluctant Messiah)
Estimate $100,000 - 150,000
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341
Kehinde Wiley
St. Michael
Estimate $80,000 - 120,000
Sold for $101,600
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342
Chris Ofili
The Almighty Shadow
Estimate $40,000 - 60,000
Sold for $38,100
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343
Nathaniel Mary Quinn
How Come Not Me
Estimate $80,000 - 120,000
Sold for $88,900
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344
Jeff Sonhouse
Schizophrenic Scripture Highlighted in Van Dyck Brown
Estimate $15,000 - 20,000
Sold for $20,320
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345
TM Davy
Fire Island Moonrise
Estimate $18,000 - 25,000
Sold for $20,320
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346
Jeanette Mundt
I Have Proof
Estimate $15,000 - 20,000
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347
Issy Wood
Study for you in every drop
Estimate $80,000 - 120,000
Sold for $304,800
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348
Chloe Wise
Haley with Melon
Estimate $35,000 - 45,000
Sold for $44,450
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349
Caroline Walker
Study for Review
Estimate $25,000 - 35,000
Sold for $33,020
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350
Heidi Hahn
Folded Venus / Pomaded Sweater #3
Estimate $20,000 - 30,000
Sold for $30,480
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351
Loie Hollowell
Direct Shot
Estimate $30,000 - 50,000
Sold for $35,560
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352
Lucy Bull
Untitled (LB 129)
Estimate $15,000 - 20,000
Sold for $31,750
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353
Carol Bove
Untitled
Estimate $50,000 - 70,000
Sold for $76,200
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354
Carol Bove
Childhood memory of a woman who brought candy
Estimate $40,000 - 60,000
Sold for $44,450
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355
Isa Genzken
Kirche (Church)
Estimate $100,000 - 150,000
Sold for $165,100
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356
Erwin Wurm
Mies van der Rohe—melting
Estimate $30,000 - 40,000
Sold for $53,340
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357
Günther Förg
Untitled
Estimate $100,000 - 150,000
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358
Günther Förg
Untitled
Estimate $30,000 - 50,000
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359
Vaughn Spann
Dalmatian No. 6 (Martha's Vineyard)
Estimate $50,000 - 70,000
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360
Glenn Ligon
Study for Negro Sunshine #70
Estimate $12,000 - 18,000
Sold for $27,940
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361
Glenn Ligon
Mirror Drawing #9
Estimate $30,000 - 50,000
Sold for $48,260
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362
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363
Jenny Holzer
Survival: Hide under water…
Estimate $150,000 - 200,000
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364
Gary Hume
American Tan VI
Estimate $50,000 - 70,000
Sold for $50,800
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365
Richard Prince
Untitled
Estimate $80,000 - 120,000
Sold for $120,650
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366
Mel Bochner
Nothing
Estimate $30,000 - 40,000
Sold for $60,960
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367
Barry McGee
Untitled
Estimate $30,000 - 50,000
Sold for $60,960
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368
Daniel Arsham
Crystal Eroded Locks
Estimate $12,000 - 18,000
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369
KAWS
UNTITLED (HTLC8)
Estimate $100,000 - 150,000
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370
KAWS
UNTITLED
Estimate $50,000 - 70,000
Sold for $63,500
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371
Peter Halley
Spell
Estimate $100,000 - 150,000
Sold for $114,300
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372
Anke Weyer
Eye Beep
Estimate $25,000 - 35,000
Sold for $46,990
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373
Miquel Barceló
Ull de Perdiu
Estimate $150,000 - 250,000
Sold for $177,800
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374
Nicola De Maria
Regno dei Fiori
Estimate $40,000 - 60,000
Sold for $60,960
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375
Barry X Ball
Perfect Forms
Estimate $70,000 - 100,000
Sold for $54,610
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376
Michal Rovner
Mathematics 3
Estimate $15,000 - 20,000
Sold for $17,780
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377
Pat Steir
Egg #081
Estimate $10,000 - 15,000
Sold for $27,940
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378No Reserve
Amy Sillman
Word of Mouth
Estimate $40,000 - 60,000 •
Sold for $48,260
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379
Katherine Bradford
Mother Ship
Estimate $50,000 - 70,000
Sold for $50,800
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380
Katherine Bradford
Runner At Rest
Estimate $25,000 - 35,000
Sold for $48,260
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381
Genieve Figgis
The Last Night
Estimate $50,000 - 70,000
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382
Shara Hughes
Untitled
Estimate $70,000 - 100,000
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383
Awol Erizku
Arrangement for the historians who’ve re-casted Egypt in an African Context
Estimate $7,000 - 10,000
Sold for $8,890
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384
Ariana Papademetropoulos
Untitled
Estimate $8,000 - 12,000
Sold for $21,590
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385
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386
Raelis Vasquez
Me Siento Hoy
Estimate $18,000 - 25,000
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387
Alake Shilling
Bearly Hanging On
Estimate $10,000 - 15,000
Sold for $12,700
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388
Mario Ayala
Bad Boy
Estimate $8,000 - 12,000
Sold for $12,700
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389
Danica Lundy
Press Here, Open, Eject
Estimate $5,000 - 7,000
Sold for $13,970
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390
Jenny Morgan
Resolution
Estimate $8,000 - 12,000
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391
Caroline Absher
Freeing the Potted Plants
Estimate $15,000 - 20,000
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392
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393
Mosie Romney
Award Winning Wisdom
Estimate $15,000 - 20,000
Sold for $12,700
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394
Cornelius Annor
Anigye
Estimate $20,000 - 30,000
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395
Emmanuel Taku
Empress of the Night
Estimate $10,000 - 15,000
Sold for $15,240
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396
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397
Nate Lowman
Untitled
Estimate $20,000 - 30,000
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398
Oscar Murillo
Untitled
Estimate $60,000 - 80,000
Sold for $44,450
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399
Ludovic Nkoth
Item #57
Estimate $20,000 - 30,000
Sold for $22,860
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400
Milo Matthieu
Miss Congeniality.II
Estimate $10,000 - 15,000
Sold for $15,240
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401
John Currin
Untitled
Estimate $30,000 - 40,000
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402
Elizabeth Peyton
Untitled (Barenboim and Bosie)
Estimate $15,000 - 20,000
Sold for $17,780
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403
Antony Gormley
Learning to think VI
Estimate $20,000 - 30,000
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404
Huma Bhabha
Untitled
Estimate $10,000 - 15,000
Sold for $12,700
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405
Vik Muniz
Catherine Deneuve (Diamond Divas)
Estimate $25,000 - 35,000
Sold for $22,860
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406
Raymond Pettibon
Untitled
Estimate $25,000 - 35,000
Sold for $48,260
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407
Martin Kippenberger
Untitled (Bates Hotel)
Estimate $7,000 - 10,000
Sold for $8,890
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408
Martin Kippenberger
Untitled
Estimate $25,000 - 35,000
Sold for $15,240
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409
Thomas Scheibitz
Flyer
Estimate $8,000 - 12,000
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410
Katherine Bernhardt
Doritos + Socks + Basketballs
Estimate $35,000 - 45,000
Sold for $60,960
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411
Sarah Crowner
Dichotomic Organization, 1959 (Blue)
Estimate $25,000 - 35,000
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412
Petra Cortright
boy+free+sex+storiesboylink
Estimate $10,000 - 15,000
Sold for $13,970
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413
Petra Cortright
free metallica wallpaper
Estimate $15,000 - 20,000
Sold for $24,130
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414
RETNA
This is Show Business
Estimate $40,000 - 60,000
Sold for $69,850
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415
Jordi Ribes
The Slide
Estimate $30,000 - 40,000
Sold for $38,100
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416
Jon Rafman
New Age Demanded (Twistface Pink)
Estimate $12,000 - 18,000
Sold for $16,510
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417
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418
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419
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20th Century & Contemporary Art Day Sale,...

New York Auction 15 November 2023

Create your first list.

Provenance

332

Rashid Johnson

The Barefoot Prophet

20th Century & Contemporary Art Day Sale, Afternoon Session

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Create your first list.

Create your first list.

Create your first list.

Create your first list.

Create your first list.

Create your first list.

Create your first list.

Create your first list.

Create your first list.

Create your first list.

Create your first list.

Create your first list.