Jean-Michel Basquiat's In Colour is expected to lead sales in an important auction of modern and contemporary art on May 22 in Dallas.
 Jean-Michel Basquiat's In Colour |
The piece boasts the highest estimate in an array of works from 20th century luminaries such as Pablo Picasso, Andy Warhol and Amedeo Modigliani.
Basquiat began his career as a graffiti artist in New York in 1976, before evolving into a Neo-expressionist painter.
Following his tragic death at the age of 27, his work has seen increasing popularity at auction. In 2007 an untitled work from 1981 sold for $14.6m at Sotheby's, setting a record for the artist which has yet to be beaten.
In Colour is a surprisingly sparse, scrawled piece produced by Basquait in 1986. Featuring a reference to Raymond Chandler's 1953 novel The Long Goodbye, the work is reflective of an artist who struggled with a heroin addiction. It is expected to bring $120,000-200,000.
Andy Warhol, a good friend and collaborator of Basquiat, will also feature in the auction. His 1981 Superman screenprint, produced using diamond dust, is expected to bring $80,000-100,000. It is one of three Warhol works to appear, with 1967's Marilyn and 1987's Moonwalk estimated at $60,000+ and $50,000+, respectively.
Picasso's coloured linoleum cut Dejeuner sur l'herb is expected to garner strong attention at the auction, following the success of his works in the Christie's Impressionist Sale on May 3 in which Le Repos, starring his famed mistress Marie-Thérése Walter, sold for $9.8m. Dejeuner sur l'herb is expected to bring $80,000-100,000, but may exceed this estimate considerably.
A drawing from Amedeo Modigliani, entitled Femme nue assise, will also go to auction with an identical estimate to the Picasso works.
PFC auctions has a fantastic lithograph signed by Picasso is its current auction, which opened for bids on May 3.
