Michael Crichton, the author of legendary “Jurassic Park” and “ER,” passed away in 2008 and left behind an important contemporary art collection.  His collection includes famous pop art works by Roy Lichtenstein, Robert Rauschenberg, Claes Oldenburg and Jasper Johns, among many other well-known contemporary artists.

Most of Crichton’s special collection will be sold at auction at Christie’s in New York, where the works will be on view through April 13, as well as the week leading up to the post-war and contemporary art sale.  The sale will take place on May 11^th and 12^th.

Michael Crichton was a passionate art collector, and he not only thoroughly researched the artists he collected, but he was also friends with many of these artists.

Crichton was particularly close to Jasper Johns, from whom he acquired the famous work “Flag” in 1974.  Crichton wrote the Whitney catalog for Jasper Johns’ retrospective in 1977, and this document, and its later editions, marked Michael Crichton as the ultimate source on the artist.  The iconic “Flag” will be grouped in a special presentation of Jasper Johns’ artwork, and is estimated to bring in $10,000,000 to $15,000,000, but will likely go for much more.

Jasper Johns, Flag, 1960-1966.

To be sold at Christie’s Post-War and Contemporary Art sale,

New York, May 11-12, 2010.

Tags: art collection, art sale, Christie's, contemporary art, Jasper Johns, Michael Crichton, post-war and contemporary art sale