Rare Warhol self portrait may raise up to £10m at auction

London, Mar 20 (ANI): A rare self-portrait of Andy Warhol, which the artist painted less than a year before his death, could rake in a whopping 10 million pounds in auction.

Currently owned by the designer Tom Ford who acquired the work from the artist's estate in 1998, the painting makes part of the artist's final series of Self Portraits, which is known to be the most important of his career.I have always had an extensive art collection and own many Warhols," the Telegraph quoted Ford as saying.

"I am constantly buying and selling art to update my collection," he added.

The portrait will go on sale at Sotheby's in New York on May 12 this year.

The series was Warhol's last prior to his death in February 22 1987.

Measuring 108 x 108 inches, the acrylic and silkscreen ink on canvas was based on Polaroids taken by Warhol during the 1970s.

The picture sees the artist wearing his signature "fright" wig.

Warhol died in New York aged 58 shortly after having a gall bladder operation.

The painting will be shown in London, along with other highlights from the May auction, from 15 - 19 April. (ANI)