Jackson Portrait Painter Tells Collector To Beat It

TAMPA, Fla.—Painter Dick Zimmerman has announced that he has turned down a $1.8 million offer for his portrait of Michael Jackson, HOMAGEKOP8/15 (2009), saying that he is not yet ready to sell his tribute to the late pop star.

Zimmerman collaborated with Jackson on the cover for his Thriller album, a cover for an E.T. record on which he performed, and wedding portraits with Lisa Marie Presley, whom he married in 1994. HOMAGEKOP8/15 contains images from all three works.

The cryptic title refers to this history of their collaboration. It decodes to "Homage King of Pop," and signifies that Zimmerman and Jackson socialized eight times over a 15-year period.

Artinfo / Thanks Joy C!