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Filipino artist Cort Talampas wins big as Michael Jordan sketch auctioned for P12.6M
After taking the internet by storm in 2021 when basketball legend Michael Jordan personally received and signed his charcoal masterpiece "Last Shot", self-taught Filipino artist Christian "Cort" Talampas is once again making headlines.
This time, it's a milestone for the ages.
Talampas' iconic artwork, depicting Michael Jordan's championship-winning final shot for the Chicago Bulls, has officially been sold at the prestigious Goldin 100 Auction for a staggering $207,400—roughly P12.6 million.
Created in 2021, the hyper-detailed charcoal piece captures Jordan's final shot in Game 6 of the 1998 NBA Finals that clinched the Bulls' second three-peat in eight years. Jordan's heroics elevated his stature as the National Basketball Association's (NBA) greatest of all time, or simply the GOAT.
Talampas' masterpiece was no overnight success. He spent 72 days meticulously working on the artwork before sharing it on TikTok, where it quickly went viral.
The video racked up more than 596,000 likes, eventually catching the attention of a US-based collector who helped connect the Filipino artist with Jordan's camp.
In 2022, the basketball legend personally signed the artwork and returned it to Talampas—along with other memorabilia—making an already unforgettable story even more remarkable.
The artwork also holds a special place in my heart.
Unknown to many, Cort included the faces of my wife, fellow journalist MJ Marfori, and me in the piece.
When I asked him why, he simply said it was his way of thanking the people who believed in him from the very beginning and trusted his talent before the world discovered it.
It was actually MJ who first commissioned Cort to create my birthday portrait years ago. Since then, we've not only witnessed his incredible artistic journey—we've also gained a good friend.
From a viral TikTok post to a multi-million peso auction sale, Cort's story is proof that talent, hard work, and patience can take an artist farther than they ever imagined.
Congratulations, Cort Art, on another incredible milestone. Here's to creating more masterpieces—and making even more history. — VDV, GMA News
