Tracey Emin, Left Soul, 2018
We at Hidden pride ourselves on our spectacular collection of original artworks. Hidden specialises in exceptionally rare pieces, meaning that we principally only ever have one of each artwork in our collection!
Some of the rarest pieces within Hidden's portfolio are our unique artworks; whether they are a monoprint, painting or drawing, each of these pieces is completely one of a kind. Collectors become part of an artist's legacy when they acquire an original artwork. This remarkable connection to a household name is certainly all the more intimate when acquiring a unique work of art.
We are thrilled to share a selection of the unique pieces within our collection. Highly personal, these pieces divulge illuminating insight into key moments of each artist’s career. There is a great honour in witnessing these works. What could be better than owning a drawing directly from Andy Warhol’s own personal collection?
Any questions? We are happy to help. Call: 0117 279 6402 or send us a message now.
Tracey Emin, Left Soul, 2018
Tracey Emin is one of the most iconic figures in contemporary art, with a growing international audience and many major exhibitions under her belt. Arguably there is no better time to be talking about Emin’s work, following the opening of her revolutionary new art school in Margate last month. The artist is rarely off anybody’s radar but is certainly being talked about from a fresh perspective this year.
This unique drawing by Emin was created for the ‘Environment Trust, Secret Art Sale’ in 2018. Unmistakably a piece by Emin, the drawing merges visual and textual elements to convey the artist’s most private, commanding thoughts. Always bold and unapologetic, the artist is celebrated for her intensely personal approach to making art. An Emin artwork will always draw the viewer in; this piece, due to its expressive linework and the fact it is completely unique, enables the viewer to form a indelible connection with the artist.
Damien Hirst, Beautiful Nightcall of the Twilight Zone Spin Painting for Yet Unborn, 2012
Damien Hirst’s ‘spin paintings’ are amongst the artist’s most iconic works, and significantly contributed to the unfolding of contemporary art as we know it. The artist splits his work thematically into two distinct opposites – life and death. Hirst’s ‘spin paintings’ can be seen to link these two strands, as they erupt with life and energy whilst embracing chaos and uncertainty.
Initiated in 1995, Hirst worked in collaboration with fellow artist Angus Fairhurst to develop the ‘spin paintings’ at the event ‘A Fete Worse than Death’. The artist pours paint onto a rotating canvas to create these works; the spin machine originally used to create the very first paintings constituted of an inverted electric drill and a piece of wood.
This fantastic, unique painting by Hirst encapsulates some of the artist’s most key concepts, through one of his most celebrated techniques. Having a unique ‘spin painting’ by one of the most significant artists of this generation is an essential addition to any contemporary portfolio.
Tracey Emin, Me and My Twin - Paul - 1975, 1994
Monoprinting is a printing method which produces unique, one-off prints. A monoprint is created by applying printing ink onto a sheet of glass or metal and pressing this plate onto paper.
Monoprints form a substantial part of Emin's practice, as their immediacy suits the artist's bold and intimate artworks. This particular monoprint is especially significant as it was created in 1994, a defining period in both the artist’s career and personal life. In 1993, the artist opened her first solo exhibition at White Cube. ‘My Major Retrospective’ secured the artist’s reputation as a trailblazer. In 1994, the artist underwent major dental work, had an abortion and ended her relationship with her boyfriend. The artist’s now legendary ‘A Week from Hell’, a large series of work, grew from these difficult experiences.
Emin dates this image to 1975, as seen in the top left of the print; 1975 was the year before a traumatic event happened to Emin, therefore the artist is capturing an emotional reality which is soon to vanish. The artist’s twin brother Paul appears frequently in her work due to their close relationship. This piece is incredibly potent, and truly the crown jewel of any serious Emin collection.
Andy Warhol, Male Torso, c.1955
This extraordinary drawing by Andy Warhol comes directly from the artist’s estate. Created in the 1950s, this piece is from a highly personal series which predates Warhol’s pioneering of the Pop Art movement. The artist drew over 300 seductive, intimate line drawings which explore male beauty and desire. Warhol began his career as a commercial artist, and therefore considered these works to be his initial advancement into fine art.
Due to contemporary attitudes concerning homosexuality, only a few of these drawings were exhibited in 1956. The artist’s ambition to publish these drawings in a monograph was only realised very recently in 2020.
Not only is this piece unique, but the opportunity to acquire a drawing directly from Warhol’s personal collection is all the more so. The work is accompanied by a certificate of provenance from The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, and the collector of this drawing may also register as its owner in the official catalogue of Warhol’s archive.
L.S Lowry, Discus Thrower (Recto); Man Punting (Verso), 1906
Hidden are honoured to hold an example of Lowry’s earliest work. ‘Discus Thrower (Recto); Man Punting (Verso)’ is a double-sided drawing created when the artist was only 19, whilst studying at the Manchester School of Art.
‘Discus Thrower’ has an exquisite tonal quality which makes it appear as though it were sculpted from stone; art students for centuries would learn to draw by making studies from casts of classical marble sculptures. Lowry’s drawing not only demonstrates this interesting aspect of art history, but also emphasises the artist’s immense skill and dexterity with line and form. Championed for his naïvely drawn stick men, it is fascinating to see how the artist began with incredibly advanced, technical drawings before developing his signature style. In fact, you can practically see the maturing of this style in the transition to his ‘Man Punting’ drawing on the reverse. Much flatter, this piece boasts technical control of a different sort.
This drawing enables its collector to form an incredible connection with one of Britain’s most beloved artists. If you closely observe the corners of the sheet itself, you will notice tiny pinholes from where the artist would have pinned up the drawing over the years. This piece was clearly handled repeatedly by Lowry – it is practically oozing with his artistry!
Grayson Perry, Claire - A Self Portrait, 2022
The provenance of this piece could not be more exceptional –it was drawn right in front of Hidden’s owner!
Created at a fundraising event at the Royal West of England Academy, this piece is a self-portrait of the artist Grayson Perry as his legendary alter-ego Claire. Claire is best described by the artist as ‘a forty-something woman living in a Barratt home, the kind of woman who eats ready meals and can just about sew on a button’.
Grayson Perry is one of the nation’s most celebrated artists, winning the Turner Prize in 2003 and becoming even more popular due to his championing of creativity throughout the Coronavirus Pandemic. Acquiring a unique drawing by such a pioneer of contemporary art, especially a piece as intimate as a self-portrait, is truly an unmissable opportunity.
Any questions? We are happy to help. Call: 0117 279 6402 or send us a message now.
