Looking for unique memorabilia and precious metals since 1996, Treasure Hunters Roadshow (THR), one of the premier dealers of gold, silver, militaria, guitars and fine arts in the entire world, has trekked all across North America and even Europe. Traveling as part of the THR teams, who host around 100 shows every single week, is an elite group of art professionals who are searching for America’s lost artwork.

In recent times, the “pop art” culture, guided by trendsetter Roy Lichtenstein, has revealed an increase in popularity with collectors although typical landscape pieces by artists such as Albert Bierstadt and Thomas Moran sustain their high appeal.

At the events the specialists assess all varieties of art, and if established to be authentic and valuable, an offer is made and, if accepted, a check is presented to the seller. With the Treasure Hunters Roadshow Tv show gearing up for another season, these art fans are eager to see what other great paintings they will be able to uncover this time around.

While the height of Roy Lichtenstein’s work came in the 1960s, Treasure Hunters Roadshow professionals have noticed that collectors these days continue scooping up his authentic prints and are inclined to shell out big bucks to finish their collections. Lichtenstein became popular for his works that were inspired by graphic novels and advertisements, revealing a whimsical humor and pop culture satire that appeared to define the pop art movement.

Born into an upper middle-class New York City family, Lichtenstein’s childhood education did not involve any artwork programs. He did, however, paint and design, but primarily just for entertainment. As a child, he would frequent jazz concerts at the Appollo Theatre and sketch portraits of the artists. He went on to earn his Master’s of Fine Arts degree from Ohio State University after a tour of duty through WWII.

Soon after finishing his degree, he joined the abstract expressionism school after dabbling in cubism and expressionism. His first work,“Look Mickey” (1961), came from a challenge by his son who pointed to a comic book of Mickey Mouse and stated, “Hey, dad, bet you can’t paint as good as this.” This very first work was so coveted that every piece was obtained by investors before his exhibit opened at the Castelli gallery in 1962.

Numerous art reviewers, nevertheless, began to criticize Lichtenstein’s inventiveness due to his use of subjects from other types of pop culture. His most recognizable and well-known pieces were replicas of comic book panels, though he had largely abandoned the idea by 1965. Graphic novelist, Art Spiegelman, grew to become frustrated with Lichtenstein stating, “Lichtenstein did no more or less comics than Andy Warhol did for soup.”

Responding to his critics, in the late 1970s Lichtenstein began to use a more bizarre style in his artwork with plastic and metal sculptures and several hundred screen-printed items. In 1996, the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. came to own the largest selection of Roy Lichtenstein items, though it is thought that a massive amount of his work continues to be in private collections.

Have some pop art lying around the household but not positive if it is of value? Go to the Treasure Hunters Roadshow activities website to find out when the fine arts specialists will be in your region to evaluate and quite possibly obtain your collection. You never know – what may possibly look like a silly comic book print to you could end up being a Roy Lichtenstein original worth a small fortune!



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