Top 5

Suprising celebrity art collectors [Top 5]

Mike Pollitt | Friday 7 January, 2011 11:02

Dennis Hopper’s art collection, which includes an Andy Warhol portrait of Mao which the actor shot at twice one night because it scared him, is going on sale in New York next week. And Hopper isn’t the only celeb to have dabbled in art collecting. Here are five more. But who’s in it for the money, who for the fame, and who for the aesthetics?

Elton John
Owns a Picasso, a Matisse, and one of the largest collections of contemporary photography anywhere in the world, part of which he increased the size of his Atlanta property to accomodate. Not bad for a man named Reg. Verdict: Can You Feel the Art Love Tonight?

Steve Martin
Martin likes his art so much he wrote a novel about it. Unfortunately the audience at a book-based interview in New York before Christmas were so bored they demanded, and got, a refund. They wanted him to talk about his 20-year-old stand up instead. Which is kind of sad. Verdict: Arty Rotten Scoundrel.

Madonna
Estimates suggest that Madonna’s collection, including work by Kahlo, Hirst, and Picasso (the latter only accessible to your true global megastar) has risen in value by some 600% since she started. That’s quite a return on her investment. Verdict: Material Girl.

George Michael
“Our collection has no cultural or sexual boundaries” says Michael’s partner Kenny Goss. Sounds intriguing, no? The pair have established their own gallery in Texas to show the collection (Emin, Hirst, etc) off. Verdict: Last Christmas, I Gave You my Art. But the Very Next Day…

Brangelina
They have a Banksy. Which is kind of obvious, don’t you think? Verdict: Inglourious Basterds

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