Tomlin says ta-ta to Rauschenberg

Film star Lily Tomlin was back in action at Washburn Gallery’s booth where seven of her best Rauschenbergs had turned up for sale. “Lily and Robert were great friends,” explained Joan Washburn. “They performed many benefits together for Act, the animal rights organisation.” Tomlin bought these works in 1980, all of which feature animals in some way, and if she has kept one of them, entitled and dedicated in pencil Table Talk for Tomlin, she has decided to part with the others. “When we told her we would take them all down to Miami as a group to do a special show here, Lily decided it was a perfect idea.” Ranging from $150K-$550K, none are yet sold, but perhaps her long-running thespian collaborator Steve Martin may well add them to his own art collection.