Virgil Abloh © Rob Prior
In the weeks since Virgil Abloh's death, social media and artistic tributes have continued to flow in.
At Art Basel Miami, Rob Prior, a pop artist, and painter, sold a watercolor picture of Abloh for $1 million. Daniel Petit, a real estate executive, bought the artwork. Prior painted the piece in real-time in Miami, with Petit present to witness every stroke. The portrait was developed by QNFT, a branch of BQT Technologies, and came with an NFT version of the picture.
"It's one thing to make a transactional buy and own a piece of art as an art collector," Petit explained. But seeing Rob paint and then having the opportunity to take that work home and repeat the experience elevates his art to a whole new level." During a runway show in Miami earlier this month, Louis Vuitton paid tribute to Abloh, the former artistic director of the brand's men's wear. The celebration drew a large number of celebrities, as did the designer's burial on Dec. 7 in Chicago, which was attended by Kanye West, Kendall Jenner, A$AP Rocky, and Kim Kardashian West, among others.
Prior, who had to self-isolate following Miami due to COVID-19, had a few other big sales. He sold a pair of pictures of Canelo Alvarez, the multi-world champion boxer, for $500,000. Prior was inspired by Frida Kahlo's "Diego y yo," a self-portrait that sold for $34.9 million at Sotheby's last month, much as Abloh was. Prior's two photos of Bruce Lee and one of his "Stan Lee Legacy Collection" spoof comic book covers, which Stan Lee had signed, were also auctioned in Miami.
Live painting is also taking place in other major cities. Street artist Bradley Theodore painted a live image of Bethann Hardison on LiveRocket's Instagram page last month during a spirited chat the two had.
Selena Mattei