Nude bust of Stephanie Seymour to go under the hammer

NEW YORK - A nude bust of Stephanie Seymour, which was produced in edition of three, is about to be auctioned off to the highest bidder.

The sculpture, by smart-ass Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan, which depicts Seymour as the ultimate trophy wife, graces the cover of Phillips de Pury and Company’s Nov. 8 “Carte Blanche” art sale catalogue, which was organized by dealer Philippe galot and clearly designed for maximum publicity.

Some art insiders speculate the decision was made when the model was still battling Brant in divorce court over his allegedly controlling ways.

The couple unexpectedly reconciled last month, but if Seymour’s claims were valid, Brant can’t be happy about the catalogue, which is for sale to anyone with 38.11 dollars.

The sculpture, which depicts Seymour as the figurehead of a ship, naked and cupping her breasts, adorns the cover and gets big play inside.

Ironically, Brant commissioned the artwork in 2003. He or his foundation still owns the sculpture, but Cattelan produced “Stephanie” in an edition of three. One of those works is going on the block, and it’s estimated it will fetch more than 1.5 million dollars, reports the New York Daily News.
n the catalogue, a 2003 essay by Massimiliano Gioni suggests “Cattelan may have been having fun at his commissioner’s expense.”

He adds, “Cattelan’s last nip at the hand that feeds him, the editioning of ‘Stephanie’ served as a gentle reminder that though Brant had bagged his trophy wife,” he was “obliged to share her” with “the public at large” and “other collectors.”

A source close to Brant and Seymour said, “They were well aware that there was more than one piece being made when they commissioned the artwork.”(ANI)