Who would have thought that businessman Donald Trump would reject a painting, or an entire set of eight, that was essentially an artistic representation of him, or at least his public persona? This was the premise that renowned American artist and father of pop art, Andy Warhol, had in mind when he conceptualized and executed “New York Skyscrapers” in 1981. Trump, a man known for his penchant for grand buildings and even grander deals, surprisingly didn’t take a liking to Warhol’s vision for the 58-story skyscraper on Fifth Avenue in New York City, a structure that would soon redefine the city’s skyline.
The artwork, a blend of black, silver, and gold hues coated in Warhol’s signature “diamond dust,” was designed to hang prominently over the entrance to the residential section of Trump Tower. Yet, the project came to an abrupt halt when Donald Trump and his then-wife, Ivana, dismissed the works for their lack of vibrant colors. Despite the artist presenting eight versions of the piece, none aligned with the couple’s taste for color coordination and flamboyant design, a mismatch that ultimately led to the rejection of the artworks altogether.
Warhol, ever the visionary, had intended these paintings to celebrate the boldness of Trump’s real estate ambitions. However, while Trump Tower became an enduring symbol of the mogul’s brand, doubling as his home, office, and campaign headquarters, the artworks themselves found their way into other collections. A limited series of the “New York Skyscrapers” paintings which were informally commissioned by Trump, ended up with Warhol’s Swiss-based gallerist and close confidant, Bruno Bischofberger, and some became part of the founding collection of the Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh.
Many years later, the enduring appeal of Warhol’s work was proven again. In November 2024, one of the eight paintings from the New York Skyscrapers series was auctioned at Phillips for an impressive $952,500, nearly double its estimated value. Back in the early 1980s, Warhol had priced the series, four silver and four gold pieces, at $100,000 per set. The rejection by Trump, who would soon become the 47th president of the United States, also meant that the businessman never paid for the pieces he had once casually entertained acquiring.
For Warhol, the project may have started as a tribute to Trump’s architectural legacy, but it has since gained a life of its own, becoming a coveted piece of art history tied to two American icons.
New York Skyscrapers’ shattered records at auction-
Measuring 50 1/4 x 42 1/8 in, the striking artwork was rendered in Warhol’s signature pop art style, utilizing silkscreen printing combined with “diamond dust,” a fine, reflective material that gives the artwork a shimmering, textured effect. It would’ve been quite an addition to the iconic Trump Tower as it perfectly reflected the opulent and glamorous aesthetic of the structure. Not meant to be, this subdued palette has now sold for double the estimate, $952,500, to be exact, at the Phillips auction in New York City on November 19.
