Oasis Fever Hits Sotheby’s: ‘Liam + Noel’ Portrait Set to Fetch $2 Million USD

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Summary

  • Elizabeth Peyton’s Liam + Noel (Gallagher) (1996) is heading to Sotheby’s contemporary art sale in London on June 24
  • Created in the apex of the band’s fame, the “prescient” portrait highlights the quiet tension that shaped the duo’s public relationship and their break-up in 2009.
  • After a reunion last year, the piece draws art world excitement for the upcoming Live ’25 tour, set to start in Cardiff on July 4.

As the Live ’25 tour commences next month, it can be confidently stated: The excitement for Oasis is reaching its peak once more. A wave of Britpop nostalgia is sweeping through and the double-portrait of the Gallagher brothers by Elizabeth Peyton couldn’t have been timed better at Sotheby’s. This 1996 painting will be one of the main attractions at their contemporary art auction in London on June 24, with an estimated selling price between £1.5 – £2 million GBP ($2.03 – $2.71 million USD).

In the wake of their iconic Knebworth Park shows, which etched their names in the annals of UK music history as the largest live concert, I found myself at the heart of a unique piece of art – Liam + Noel, inspired by a photograph of us brothers, captured brilliantly by Stefan De Batselier a year prior. This masterpiece is part of a significant collection within Peyton’s artistic legacy, with one from this series selling for an impressive $4.1 million USD just last year.

In this photo, we find the two brothers, both dressed in tracksuits, engaged in a tight hug. However, beneath their identical hairstyles, bushy eyebrows, and rosy complexions lies the subtle tension of their mixed professional-personal relationship. Antonia Gardner, Sotheby’s specialist, shared with The Guardian that “it’s a press image; they’re embracing each other, but there’s a hint of strain in it. It feels eerily prophetic, given what transpired later.

In much the same way that the indie duo rose to prominence in the realm of pop music, Peyton also experienced a similar ascent, solidifying her status as one of the most influential American portrait artists of the time. Notably recognized for her portraits of popular figures such as Liam + Noel (Gallagher), she demonstrated an exceptional talent in capturing pop icons not only under the harsh glare of the limelight but also revealing their tender, genuine beauty.

Starting from June 18 until June 24, the painting will be exhibited before the auction at Sotheby’s galleries in London. For details about the upcoming sale, visit their official website.

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2025-06-13 22:55