June 2017 Sports Card & Memorabilia Auction
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 6/25/2017
Original Large (32" diameter) HAND PAINTED ARTWORK from Nationally Renowned Artist Karen O'Neil Ganci. Personally Signed by Artist Ms. Ganci and autographed by Yankees legend and Hall of Famer Joe DiMaggio. It includes a JSA letter of authenticity. Her Joe DiMaggio pieces are limited and have rarely come to market. This painting is on canvas stretched around a 32" plywood base and adhered at the sides with decorative pins. The baseball laces on the piece are made of leather cording and are stitched to the canvas. The artwork depicts a portrait of DiMaggio with a US flag background. Overall, the canvas looks great, with just a few minor surface impressions. The DiMaggio autograph has faded a little but remains clear (see photos). Derek Jeter signed Karen O'Neil Ganci artwork usually sells for $2,000 - $5,000 per piece, but a Joe DiMaggio signed piece has not come to market and is much rarer. As a young teen growing up in Saddle Brook, New Jersey, artist Karen O'Neil Ganci preferred artistic and creative endeavors to other kinds of extracurricular activities. By the time she entered high school, she had received multiple fine art awards. Her artistic gift prompted her junior and senior year art teachers to create a special art grant for the Honor Roll student. Invited to attend the Ducret School of Art and other art institutions, Karen opted to begin hands-on training with illustrator, Lori Anzalone. This apprenticeship provided her with the opportunity to work with major accounts such as Tropicana, New Jersey Bell, New Jersey Lottery and Macy's to name a few. With the experience she gained through her apprenticeship, in 1993 at the age of 19, Karen opened her own art studio. In 1995, Karen was invited by Creative Image Productions to showcase her artistic talents in a 1-hour cable television special. During this special, she painted a portrait of the late Brandon Lee. The show aired as a special presentation on C.T.N. and O.B.C. television. After receiving positive response from fans and critics alike, she was inspired to pursue her artistic talents in the collectibles industry. Over the years, Ms. Ganci has painted likenesses of some of sport's greatest legends. She created custom pieces of the greatest living baseball player, Joe DiMaggio. Mr. DiMaggio has acknowledged the works as some of the best he has seen. Karen's likenesses of Ted Williams are displayed in the Ted Williams Museum in Hernando, Florida. The museum has commissioned her to create artwork each year for their Hitter's Hall of Fame induction plaques. In 1998, Karen presented a tribute piece to the '98 Yankees at the opening of the World Series. The artwork is displayed in the player's clubhouse and is considered their good luck charm. Ms. Ganci has released limited edition, hand signed giclee on canvas of Dan Marino, Nolan Ryan, Joe Montana, Peyton Manning, Phil Simms, Lawrence Taylor, and Coach Bill Parcells. She has also been commissioned to paint life-sized likenesses of Mickey Mantle, Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez, Nolan Ryan, Roger Clemens, Michael Jordan, Wayne Gretzky, and Dan Marino on hand signed jerseys, bats, baseballs, home plates, seatbacks, footballs, football helmets and guitars. Karen has created one of a kind items and personal pieces for sports greats like Mark McGwire, Mike Piazza, Phil Rizzuto, Yogi Berra, Joe Torre and many of the World Champion Yankees just to name a few. In 2002, Karen created portraits on jerseys for most of the starters of the New York Yankees. Players included David Wells, Andy Pettitte, Orlando Hernandez, Mariano Rivera, and Roger Clemens. Mr. Clemens bought multiple pieces of her work for his family members. Karen created a Monte Irvin tribute that was presented to him at an honorary dinner and roast. She also painted a tribute to Muhammad Ali. It was Ali's favorite likeness. This particular DiMaggio piece on the auction block today is thought to be one of her earliest pieces of art, as Joe DiMaggio passed away in 1999 when she was 25 and before her widespread fame. She also appeared in the TV reality series "Big Brother Season 5" as a houseguest/contestant.
Large 1/1 Original Painting Of Joe DiMaggio Signed By DiMaggio & Famous Sports Artist Karen O'Neil Ganci (JSA LOA)
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