Bob Dylan Rare Painting Sold at Auction for Nearly $200K

A rare abstract painting that Bob Dylan wrote more than 50 years ago has recently fetched a very handsome sum.

The rock icon’s circa-1968 artwork sold for $196,156 at auction, RR Auction, which handled the transaction, said in a press release on Friday, May 24 – which happened to be Dylan’s 83rd birthday.

A picture of Bob Dylan from 1968.

RR auction

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The picture was created during the musician’s stay in Woodstock, New York, during the period in which he collaborated with The Band. These recordings were later published The Basement Tapes in 1975 and The Bootleg Series Vol. 11: Basement tapes completed in 2014.

RR Auction described the painting on its website as “a colorful and energetic abstract composition featuring a large central outline of a bull. The canvas is filled with stunning abstract shapes and patterns combined with recognizable imagery, including musical notes, bow ties, animals and segmented features. On at the top is a red outline of a man in a brimmed hat—reflecting his own style during his Woodstock days…”

Bob Dylan in 1965.

Val Wilmer/Redferns

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According to the auction house, Dylan offered the painting to Woodstock resident Sandy LePanto in exchange for an astrological chart, noting that the painting had been in her family until it was recently rediscovered in the estate of her ex-husband, Anthony Lepanto.

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“Sandy was not only one of the most beautiful women in Woodstock in a time when there were many; she was a mystic, channeler, star reader and maker of astrological charts for her friends,” wrote Anne Margaret Daniel, according to the auction description. “Mythologies fascinated her, and she read widely and deeply in the legends of many cultures…Dylan gave Sandy a painting in exchange for the charts and readings she did for him.”

Outside of his legendary music, Dylan is known for his artwork that has been on display. One of his paintings graced the cover of The Band’s 1968 debut album Music from Big Pink. His artwork was also used for his 1970 double album Self portrait.

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“Dylan’s artistry knows no boundaries, as is evident in this vibrant work that blends music, symbolism and personal reflections,” Bobby Livingston, executive vice president of RR Auction, said in a press statement shared with PEOPLE. “With his 83rd birthday upon us, this sale underscores the lasting impact of his multifaceted talent.”

Meanwhile, Dylan is currently on tour this summer as part of the 2024 Outlaw Music Festival, which includes Willie Nelson, Robert Plant, Alison Krauss and John Mellencamp.

Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education