This autumn, Christie’s New York will offer for sale prints from Madonna’s hugely successful 1992 coffee table book “Sex.” This unprecedented auction marks the 30th anniversary of the book that stirred both fascination and controversy upon its release.
Over 40 prints, initially featured in “Sex,” are set to be auctioned off as a unique standalone event in October. Each image will be a one-of-a-kind edition, autographed by Madonna and renowned fashion photographer Steven Meisel, the book’s shooter. The price tags are expected to range from $50,000 to $300,000, as shared by Darius Himes, Christie’s Deputy Chairman and International Head of Photographs. A portion of the profits will benefit Raising Malawi, a charity established by Madonna in 2006 to aid orphans and vulnerable children in Malawi, southeastern Africa.
Himes observed that despite its enduring controversial nature, “Sex” promotes a positive narrative on body image and sexual expression. He described the book as simultaneously shocking, enticing, and encapsulating the intense charisma of Madonna in the early 1990s.
The launch of “Sex”, alongside Madonna’s fifth studio album, “Erotica,” created a global stir in the early ’90s. The book showcased explicit photos of Madonna and others, nude and simulating sexual acts. It featured celebrities, including rapper Vanilla Ice, supermodel Naomi Campbell, and socialite Tatiana von Fürstenberg. Despite condemnations from the Vatican and bans in countries like Ireland and Japan, “Sex” was an immediate commercial success, selling over 1.5 million copies.
The prints to be auctioned in October were handpicked by Madonna, Meisel, and Anthony Vaccarello, Saint Laurent’s Creative Director. Last year, during Art Basel in Miami Beach, Saint Laurent released a limited second edition of “Sex”. The 800 signed copies swiftly sold out, and a temporary exhibition of the photos drew substantial crowds.
The photo series has been described by Himes as “both playful and erotic,” noting that Meisel’s images remain impactful even after three decades. He stated that the series embodies a period-specific snapshot of a masterful fashion photographer and the pop music queen. The photos hold a timeless allure and resonate with multiple generations.
Himes also noted that “Sex” was published during the peak of the AIDS epidemic in the US, featuring bold portrayals of homosexuality at a time when such relationships faced significant mainstream resistance.
Madonna, in an Instagram story last October, claimed her work laid the foundation for other female artists to freely express their sexuality, despite the criticism she received for depicting men kissing men, women kissing women, and her kissing everyone.
Madonna’s ventures into the realm of art have sometimes been rocky sailing. The previous year, she collaborated with digital artist Beeple to launch a series of three NFTs (non-fungible tokens) based on a 3D scan of herself in the nude. The NFTs depict Madonna giving birth to various creatures, such as butterflies, centipedes, and even a tree.
Facing criticism over the perceived indecency of the project, Madonna defended her work, stating that it merely represents a primal act that women have performed since time immemorial – childbirth.
In a Twitter Spaces interview with Beeple in May 2022, Madonna expressed, “We’re always operating and living under the male gaze, and unfortunately pandering to what we think people want us to do. Creating works of art is often challenging… and it isn’t always pretty.”
Before the auction in October, the photographs will be on display at Christie’s London from the end of May until June 2, then in Paris from June 27 to July 6, and finally moving to New York on September 30, where they will remain on display until October 6.
This unprecedented auction offers a unique opportunity to own a piece of pop culture history. As provocative and audacious as the pop icon herself, these photographs challenge conventions, highlight a significant period in Madonna’s career and carry a powerful message that still resonates three decades later. Whether you’re a collector, a fan, or just an admirer of art that breaks boundaries, this sale is a chance to participate in the ongoing dialogue about sexuality and freedom of expression that Madonna’s “Sex” book sparked all those years ago.
