Lot #6460

Elon Musk Original Photographic SpaceX Print by Susan Werner - “The Portrait of Determination” (Ltd. Ed. #1/5) - 20” x 29”

Description

“The Portrait of Determination”—Susan Werner’s limited edition 1/5 portrait of Elon Musk, photographed on 35mm film at SpaceX’s original facility in 2003

Limited edition semi-glossy 20 x 29 fine art photographic print of Elon Musk, entitled “The Portrait of Determination,” numbered 1/5, printed on 100% cotton, museum-quality archival paper. Photographed by Susan Werner on 35mm film in 2003 during a portrait session at SpaceX’s original facility in the formative days of the company, the intimate image depicts the young SpaceX founder with his arms crossed and gazing directly into the camera. The photograph is signed in the lower border in archival ink by Werner, who also signs an accompanying certificate of authenticity from Susan Werner Photography. In very fine condition.

The certificate provides Werner’s firsthand account of the historic 2003 session inside SpaceX's immense early warehouse in El Segundo. Rather than encountering a guarded figure, Werner recalls Musk as quietly confident and composed from the moment she arrived. As the session unfolded, a direct collaboration emerged between photographer and subject, capturing Musk with a steady, open gaze at the very beginning of his monumental SpaceX journey. Dedicated portrait sessions of Musk from SpaceX’s formative years are seldom encountered.

Auction Info

• Auction Title: Space Exploration
• Dates:
  Starts:

  09/25/2026
  Ends:

  10/22/2026