The auction record for the work of Jean-Michel Basquiat looks set to be broken once again, as his 1982 work Dustheads appears at Christie's on May 15.
 Basquiat's work has continued to appreciate in value at a remarkable rate, but will this topple the record? |
The piece is considered one of Basquiat's most accomplished and, with an estimate of $25m-35m, looks set to break the current record of $26.4m which was set in November 2012.
Should it surpass this price, this will be the fourth time in 12 months that the Basquiat record has been broken, as the popularity of the artist's work continues to snowball.
The piece was executed in 1982, at the very height of Basquiat's fame and creative productivity. Set against what Christie's describes as "a backdrop of intense inky blackness", the painting depicts two figures that represent the pinnacle of Basquiat's raw, expressive style.
"Basquiat had always been considered an outsider by the art world establishment, yet the everlasting power, relevance and integrity of his work have gradually identified him as the creative leader of his generation," commented Christie's Loic Gouzer.
"Dustheads, a portrait of two figures doped up on 'angel dust', exemplifies Basquiat's artistic creation with 'no strings attached'. The work is undoubtedly one of his best paintings and perhaps the last great masterpiece to come to auction."
The work has been in a private collection for 20 years, and featured in the seminal exhibition of Basquiat's work organised by Fondation Beyeler in Basel in 2010.
Also starring in the sale is Jackson Pollock's Number 19, a monumental piece that is one of the most famous drip-paintings that the artist ever completed. It will sell with an identical $25m-35m estimate.
One of Basquiat's closest friends, inspirations and collaborators was the legendary Andy Warhol, with the pair storming the New York art scene throughout the late 1970s and early 1980s. Commemorate this remarkable period with this black polo neck jumper worn by Andy Warhol - an iconic piece that is synonymous with Warhol's inimitable style.
