Phillips: 20th Century & Contemporary Art Evening Sale

Jean-Michel Basquiat: another auction milestone

Jean-Michel Basquiat's Untitled (1982) sold at auction yesterday at Philips for $85 million, up from $57.3 million six years ago. Newcomer Anna Weyant celebrates another success with a sale value of 730,800 US dollars.

May 19, 2022
Jean-Michel Basquiat, Untitled, 1982
Image courtesy of Phillips
Jean-Michel Basquiat, Untitled, 1982, acrylic and spray paint on canvas 93 7/8 x 197 in. (238.7 x 500.4 cm)

With a total sale value of US$226 million, Phillips yesterday recorded the highest auction total in its history. All 36 lots were sold. The star of the evening, as previously suspected, was the painting Untitled (1982) by Jean-Michel Basquiat (1960-1988). It fetched $85 million. Japanese entrepreneur Yusaku Maezawa acquired it at Christie's six years ago for $57.3 million.

Newcomer Anna Weyant (b. 1995) surprised last week at a Christie's auction, where her painting Summertime sold for $1.5 million. Her $730,800 Buffet II (2021) fetched a lower price, but still a big hit at yesterday's Phillips auction: the work's estimate was between $100,000 and $150,000. Other auction highlights included Yayoi Kusama's Untitled (Nets), priced at $10.5 million, and Alexander Calder's mobile sculpture 39=50 for $15.6 million.Art.Salon

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