‘Tense’ painting of Liam and Noel Gallagher could fetch £2m at auction

• A painting of Oasis brothers Liam and Noel Gallagher, created in 1996 by Elizabeth Peyton, is set to be auctioned at Sotheby’s for an estimated £1.5m to £2m.
• The painting, titled Liam + Noel (Gallagher), was inspired by a 1995 photograph of the brothers and finished the same year Noel reportedly hit Liam with a cricket bat.
• Sotheby’s specialist Antonia Gardner notes the painting's “prescient” nature, capturing the “quiet tension” of the Oasis rivalry, which has now come “full circle” with their reunion.
• Peyton is known for her artful renditions of cultural icons, often feminising her subjects, as seen in her depictions of Liam and Noel.
• The auction precedes Oasis's reunion tour, marking their first shows since splitting in 2009, with Liam expressing regret over the “wasted years” of their feud.

IN FULL

‘Prescient’ painting of Oasis singers Liam and Noel Gallagher at height of ‘tension’ to be sold for £2m