Bidding for this lot will end on Wednesday, August 26th. The auction will begin at 9:30 AM (PDT) / 12:30 PM (EDT) / 5:30 PM (GMT) and lots are sold sequentially via live auctioneer; tune in to the live streaming broadcast on auction day to follow the pace. Note other lots in the auction may close on Thursday, August 27th or Friday, August 28th or Saturday, August 29th.
A concept artwork of a Cloud City landing bay, hand-painted by Joe Johnston from the production of Irvin Kershner’s Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back. Located within the atmosphere of the gas giant Bespin, Cloud City was both a luxury settlement and a tibanna gas mining colony. It also served as the setting for some of the most memorable moments in the entire Star Wars saga, including Darth Vader’s (David Prowse) revelation to Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) that he was his father and Han Solo's (Harrison Ford) carbon freezing.
Artist and visual effects director Joe Johnston won the Academy Award® for Best Visual Effects in 1982 for his work on Raiders of the Lost Ark. He was also instrumental in the early development of Yoda, producing some of the character’s first concept designs in 1978.
This concept of Cloud City appears on page 130 of The Art of Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back and originated from the personal collection of Industrial Light & Magic painter Michael Pangrazio, a protégé of legendary Star Wars artist Ralph McQuarrie.
The artwork is a mixed-media piece rendered in pencil, ink, and watercolour on paper. Johnston has signed it in brown ink in the lower right corner, copyrighted it to ILM, and dated it “1979”. It is additionally numbered “0360” in the lower left corner. Original production tape remains along the top edge and in the lower corners.
The lot exhibits discolouration to the paper consistent with age, while aged residue from removed tape is visible along the upper edge of the reverse. Dimensions: 13.5” x 10.75” (34 cm x 27 cm)
Sold without copyright; see copyright notice in the Terms and Conditions.
Estimate: $8,000 - 16,000
View all lots from STAR WARS: THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK (1980)
This item comes with a Propstore Certificate of Authenticity.