Stephen Colbert Puts Portrait Up For Auction For Charity

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed)
Feb 4th 2011 at 2:01PM

If you've watched "The Colbert Report" you may have seen this work of art. "Portrait 5, Stephen(s)" is the latest in a series of portraits of the host. The work was been altered by several different artists including Frank Stella, Shepard Fairey and Andres Serrano in a segment on the show in December that featured author, actor and art collector Steve Martin. Fairey added an Obey symbol to the image and Serrano scribbled on devil horns and a Hitler mustache.

What was once a skit is now going to have the ultimate financial test of a work of art, a turn on the auction block. It will be sold March 8 by auction house Phillips de Pury & Company. Proceds will benefit DonorsChoose.org, a nonprofit which raises money for school projects for children. The auction will be taped and air in a future episode of the program. The work is being offered without an estimate.

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"Turns out I'm an artist," quipped Colbert in a press release. "That finally explains why I cut off my ear. Many thanks to Phillips de Pury for including this portrait in their auction. I am honored to be sold in the prestigious manner usually reserved for foreclosed homes and champion hogs." Previous versions of the portrait have been exhibited at the National Portrait Gallery, in a palace of a Saudi prince and at a South Carolina BBQ restaurant.

This portrait will be available for viewing from Friday, February 25 through Monday, March 7 at Phillips de Pury & Company at 450 West 15th Street in New York City. More information can be found at www.phillipsdepury.com.

Tags: Andres Serrano, colbert report, donorschoose.org, phillips de pury, shepard fairey, stephen colbert, the colbert report