Kurt Cobain self-portrait sells for over $280K at auction

Julien's Auctions

A Kurt Cobain self-portrait sold for over $280,000 at an auction over the weekend.

The 1992 piece -- a stick-figure drawing the Nirvana frontman made of himself signed "Kurdt Kobain Rock Star" with the caption "I don't know how to play and I don't give a hoot!" -- was originally expected to go for around $10,000. The winning bid came in at $281,250, over 28 times the drawing's estimated value.

The portrait sale follows May's auction of six strings of Cobain's hair, which sold for over $14,000. Last summer, Cobain's 1959 Martin D-18E guitar, which he played during Nirvana's legendary MTV Unplugged special, sold for $6 million, the highest price ever for a guitar at auction.

Auction house Julien's Auctions sold the Cobain portrait as part of its annual Music Icons event. The sale also included a drum kit belonging to Van Halen's Alex Van Halen, as well as several guitars owned and signed by his late brother and band mate, Eddie Van Halen.

The drum kit, which Alex played during Van Halen's 1980 tour, sold for $230,400. It was expected to go for between $200,000 and $300,000.

Five of Eddie's guitars, which were part of his EVH Charvel Art Series, sold at the auction for prices ranging from $38,400 to $51,200.

Monday, June 14, 2021 at 11:45AM by Josh Johnson Permalink