I’m somehow always drawn to popular writers and best-selling authors. I can’t quite put my finger on it as to why, but maybe I am secretly living vicariously through their successes in an industry that has seen so many dismal failures.

I’ve always had a special place in my heart for Michael Crichton. Though he was wildly popular for penning the literature for “Jurassic Park” and “Andromeda Strain” as well as many others, I was most drawn to him for his “ER” work. Now maybe it’s because seeing George Clooney in blue scrubs has always gotten me hot and bothered, but I’d like to think it was because of the story line and its setting in Chicago.

When Crichton died in 2008 at the young age of 66, the world lost a prolific and great writer. What we gained, however, was an extraordinary art collection that is now being auctioned off from his estate.

Apparently,Crichton’s collection is valued at $32 million. It includes such works as the iconic Johns Stars and Stripes “Flag” painting. It is one of a series of paintings by Johns that revolutionized the art world. It has been said to have transformed the art world by paving the way for pop art as we know it today.

Brett Gorvy, the chairman of the Christie’s auction house who will be administering the sale has said called the “Flag” the “first great pop art object” that influenced painters such as Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein.

Crichton himself was quite an art collector, often befriending the artists of the works he collected. This was a little known fact to those around him including some of his friends who were surprised to learn of the sheer size of the collection.

The“Flag” was purchased directly from Johns in 1974 and has never been up for sale.

Other works in the collection include works by Rauschenberg and Lichtenstein as well as a 1961 Picasso, entitled “Woman and Children.”  

The auction is set to take place on May 11.