What is Jean-Michel Basquiat known for?
Jean-Michel Basquiat is a young American artist who is known for his graffiti paintings. He represented the New York punk scene, its hip hop culture, and the vibrant street art movement. Enjoying prominence from 1980 to 1988, he fondly uses suggestive dichotomies in his artworks. He always features disparate concepts in his masterpieces, such as wealth and poverty.
What auction houses (and galleries) have sold Jean-Michel Basquiat’s items?
Most of Basquiat’s masterpieces were sold by the two major auction houses, Christie’s and Sotheby’s. The most expensive one was sold by the latter for $110,500,000. During his heyday, Basquiat’s artworks were exhibited at the Annina Nosei gallery and the Mary Boone gallery. Basquiat’s contemporary artworks continue to flood the market in cities where art is highly revered, such as Hong Kong, Paris, and New York. Figuring in the most recent auctions of Jean-Michel Basquiat is the painting Il Duce, which uses acrylic, oilstick, and spray paint on canvas. It has an estimated value between USD $25 million and $35 million.
What is the price range of Jean-Michel Basquiat’s items?
Jean-Michel Basquiat’s artworks are estimated to be priced between $185,000 for sketches on paper to over a hundred million for canvas paintings. Christie’s has sold one of Basquiat’s Untitled pieces for $187,500. They also sold Dustheads and it commanded a price of USD $49 million. The Field Next to the Other Road, on the other hand, sold for $37 million.
Interesting info about Jean-Michel Basquiat
Jean-Michel Basquiat died of heroin overdose at the young age of 27 on the fateful day of August 12, 1988. Basquiat and his friend Al Diaz were responsible for the SAMO graffiti painted on the streets of Manhattan. Eventually, he let go of street art and placed his creativity on canvas. Being a contemporary artist, his works captured the interest of famous celebrities, such as David Bowie, Madonna, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Johnny Depp.
