William N. Copley - Contemporary Day Sale London Wednesday, July 2, 2014 | Phillips

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  • Provenance

    Nolan/Eckman Gallery, New York
    Private Collection, Europe

  • Artist Biography

    William N. Copley

    American • 1919 - 1996

    William N. Copley, also known by the name of CPLY, drew attention to himself in the late 1940s by fusing elements of Surrealism and Pop Art.  Copley focused on symbols of American pop culture—staples of American society including pin-up girls, cowboys and the flag—and transformed them into more accessible, universal icons that could appeal to both men and women without bias.

    In the '70s, Copley distinguished himself from the rest of the Surrealists by attempting to represent the tumultuous relationship between erotic and pornographic symbolism. He celebrated the female body, sexual freedom and, most of all, the promiscuity of America.

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PROPERTY FROM AN IMPORTANT EUROPEAN COLLECTION

221

The 69 Steps

1973
acrylic on linen
63.5 x 106.7 cm (25 x 42 in.)
Signed and dated 'CpLy 73' lower left.

Estimate
£20,000 - 30,000 

Sold for £52,500

Contact Specialist
Henry Highley
Head of Sale
hhighley@phillips.com
+ 44 20 7318 4061

Contemporary Day Sale

London Auction 3 July 2014 2PM