David Bowie's art collection will auction in London

David Bowie's art collection is to cross the block at Sotheby's London on November 10-11.

The sale will feature an eclectic range, from pieces from British artists like Francis Bacon and Frank Auerbach to work by American outsider artists.

Basquiat David Bowie
Basquiat's Air Power will provide one of the highlights of the sale

One of the main highlights will be Jean Michel Basquiat's Air Power, which carries an estimate of £2.5m-3.5m ($3.3m-4.6m).

Bowie wrote in a 1996 article on Basquiat: "It comes as no surprise to learn that he [Basquiat] had a not-so-hidden ambition to be a rock musician.

"His work relates to rock in ways that very few other visual artists get near."

That same year Bowie played Andy Warhol in a film based on Basquiat's life.

Bowie studied at Croydon School of Art for a time before he shot to stardom.

He remained deeply engaged with the visual arts throughout his life, even producing his own paintings.

This is the first time the contents of his private collection have been shared publicly.

Art critic Michael Collings spoke about the collection to the BBC: "I would characterise it as bohemian, romantic, expressive, emotional art. Art that's filled with feelings…

"I think he was an absolutely genuinely enthusiastic collector who didn't collect to be swanky or to big himself up.

"He really collected because he had a use for that work and it was a personal use. He looked at those things and they changed his state of being."

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