Elizabeth Peyton's double portrait of Oasis brothers Liam and Noel Gallagher sold for £1,992,000 ($2.7 million) at Sotheby’s Modern and Contemporary Evening Auction in London, just above its low estimate of £1.5 million. The work, depicting the band in 1996, was backed by a house guarantee and irrevocable bid. The consignor had purchased it in 2011 for $511,640, yielding a positive return. The sale coincided with Oasis's upcoming reunion tour starting July 4.
The sale highlights the enduring market appeal of celebrity portraiture and pop-culture nostalgia, especially when tied to a major cultural event like a band reunion. Peyton's auction record remains $4.1 million for another Oasis-themed painting, Blue Liam, set last year. The article also notes a related work by Friedrich Kunath at Art Basel, priced at $135,000, underscoring how art fairs and auctions are capitalizing on the band's resurgence.