Piece Itself:
Stunning Authentic Martin Lawrence Gallery Los, Angeles Original Elvis Hand Signed Steve Kaufman 1996 oil and silkscreen on canvas. This is an IMPOSSIBLE TO FIND edition of Kaufman’s famous “Young Elvis” series. Do your research - and you will find that this color variation simply DOES NOT EXIST in the resale world. You will find examples of light colored, almost “washed out” looking Kaufman “Elvis” pieces, but you will NOT see a deep hued, high contrast work of art such as this.
I specifically sought out this particular Kaufman Elvis oil on silkscreen because of its stunning use of color. I have always found this deep colored, high contrast Kaufman piece to be representative of the “light and dark” that surrounded Elvis himself throughout his life. I believe this piece captures that struggle brilliantly - the left side of the painting clear, “illuminated,” bright - the right side dark, “shady,” obscured.
In my opinion, this is the BEST example of Kaufman’s “Elvis” - a now supremely important piece that has been featured several significant published works on the famous artist.
Kaufman passed away in 2010 - meaning, there are a finite number of “Elvis” Kaufman’s out there, and an even FEWER (I’ve not found one) of this chosen color scheme.
Signed by the artist on verso (SAK), numbered “49/250” - making this an earlier edition. On the verso a certificate of authenticity and triage from Martin Lawrence Limited Editions and Elvis Presley Enterprise Incorporated.
Size: LARGE (This is a SUBSTANTIAL piece that will need a large space on the wall to hand. Size: 38 Inches by 38 Inches
Condition:
This piece has maintained its DEEP, and incredibly vibrant coloring over time. Whereas the lighter colored Kaufman “Elvis” editions show signs of dulling and “washing out,” this piece has withstood the test of time to a truly striking degree.
There are only 2 signs of wear on this piece, and they CANNOT be seen unless you
The two elements of wear are two, very slightly raised “spirals” of sorts on the canvas. I originally thought this was something that happened during the print process - perhaps an intentional design choice . One such example is to the left of Elvis’s left cheek, the other - at the corner of Elvis’s left eye.
Other than these two very minor examples of wear, this piece is flush. Canvas is wrapped very tight. It “views” as mint when hanging on the wall!!
Background:
Steve Kaufman was the once assistant of world renowned artist Andy Warhol. Kaufman, like that of his mentor, is now widely regarded as one of the most highly sought after and significant pop artists of our time.
Kaufman is known for his mastery of the silk-screening process. His pieces today are routinely exhibited in a myriad of major collections (Andy Warhol Foundation, The White House, The Smithsonian, Van Gogh Musuem, Amsterdam Museum, Saatchi & Saatchi, Marilyn Monroe Estate, etc)
Steve Kaufman is best known for his stunning and entirely unique Warhol styled works in the form of paintings, silk screens, and Serigraphs. Kaufman commonly painted celebrities, such as Marilyn Monroe, Princess Diana, Madonna, Lady Gaga, Picasso and Beethoven to Martin Luther King Jr, etc.
The demand for Steve Kaufman’s work - with all of his acclaim - is IMMENSE (especially since his passing in 2010). His work routinely fetches “top of the market” sold prices at auction.