Description:

WILLIAM S. BURROUGHS 'SHOTGUN ART'
WILLIAM S. BURROUGHS (1914-1997) American novelist, short story writer, essayist, and painter. A primary figure of the Beat Generation and a major postmodernist author, he is considered to be 'one of the most politically trenchant, culturally influential, and innovative artists of the 20th century'. Original 8 x 8 in. ca. 1940s criminal fingerprint card for a Black man from California which Burroughs turned his shotgun on to create what he termed 'Shotgun Art'. With Burroughs' personal ink stamp and signature in pencil on verso. Formerly part of the Nelson Lyon Collection. Lyon was well known 1970s SNL writer and partied with actor John Belushi the night he died. Burroughs' art was undoubtedly inspired by his accidental killing of his wife while trying to shoot a shot glass from her head.

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June 27, 2025 10:00 AM EDT
Elkton, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $499 $20
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $999,999 $10,000
$1,000,000 $1,999,999 $50,000
$2,000,000 + $100,000