Back in 1987, a year before Jean-Michel Basquiat’s death, his Untitled (One Eyed Man or Xerox Face), sold for a mere $23,100.
We say “mere” because of how well it’s matured in 30 years. In a March 8 auction at Sotheby’s London, the same painting could fetch $23 million, adding quite a few more zeroes to that original sale price.
Alex Branczik, head of contemporary art at Sotheby’s Europe, painted this picture of the masterpiece’s value:
“The hero figures in Basquiat’s paintings refer to the stars of sporting, musical, and artistic worlds who, thanks to their extraordinary talents, transcended their social status to become the nation’s icons. Painted with their arms held aloft and wearing a crown of thorns, they also reflect Basquiat’s own dramatic ascent from street artist to gallery sensation, and to his present status as one of the most valuable and talked about artists in the world.”
For more on the Basquiat painting, click here. Take a look at it below.
—Will Levith for RealClearLife
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