Andy Warhol’s Painting Of Jean-Michel Basquiat Makes Its Auction Debut
Image via Christie’s
At the next Christie’s 21st-Century Art Evening Sale in New York, a 1982 painting of Jean-Michel Basquiat by Andy Warhol will go up for auction for an estimated US$20 million.
According to Robb Report, the famed pop art creator made the portrait of Basquiat just when he was 22—the age he garnered global fame. The young prodigy’s face was silkscreened in black ink onto an orange canvas speckled with silver blots.
Interestingly, this piece is one of the few artworks Warhol created using the oxidation process. He had discovered the method in the late 70s, and performed experiments such as urinating on copper-painted canvases to create an unusual staining pattern.
This sale will be the portrait’s first-ever time under the hammer. Its current owner, magazine publisher Peter Brant, had come across the piece about 20 years ago in a New York gallery. He had lent the painting to travel globally on tour, and also loaned it to the Whitney Museum’s Warhol exhibit in 2018.
“Painted in 1982, this portrait of Jean-Michel Basquiat was created when the young artist was at the precipice of entering the New York art world and changing it forever,” said Alex Rotter, Christie’s Chairman of 20th and 21st Century Art.
“From Brooklyn to China, Basquiat symbolizes a new generation, and Warhol recognized this earlier than anyone. His unmatched ability to capture celebrity, fame, glory, and tragedy culminates in this portrait.”
The public will be able to view the painting at Christie’s Hong Kong from October 7 to October 10, before it heads to New York for the sale in November.
For more information, head here.
[via Robb Report, cover image via Christie’s]
Also check out these recent news
