A simple crayon drawing of a Native American could sell for thousands at auction thanks to the impact of the man who created it 40 years ago.
New York City-born American artist Jean-Michel Basquiat drew the figure with bow, arrow and calumet. Signed JeanMB and dated 1984, it’s guided at £4,000-£6,000.
Basquiat rose to prominence during the 1980s as part of the Neo-expressionism movement. He initially achieved notoriety in the late 1970s as part of graffiti duo SAMO. They made their mark in Manhattan, particularly in the Lower East side where rap, punk and street art coalesced into early hip-hop music culture. By the early 1980s, his paintings were being exhibited in galleries and museums internationally and he was earning $1.4m a year.
His art focused on wealth versus poverty, integration versus segregation, and inner versus outer experience. He used social commentary in his paintings as a tool for introspection and for identifying with his experiences in the black community.
Since his death from a drug overdose aged only 27 in 1988, his work has increased in value. In 2017, Untitled, a 1982 painting depicting a black skull with red and yellow rivulets, sold for a record-breaking $110.5 million (£86.6m), becoming one of the most expensive paintings ever purchased.
The crayon drawing will be offered in Hansons Auctioneers’ June 7 Iconic Design Auction: 1860 to the Present Day. Other top lots coming up in the sale include:
Keith Haring (American 1958-1990) | Original felt tip marker on paper depicting Untitled subject (Two dancers under the sun climbing the man ladder), signed and dated to the front. £6,000-£8,000
Andy Warhol (American 1928-1987) | Italian mini check, Miniassegni for 100 Italian Lire from Banco Popolare di Novara with blue heart drawing and signature dated 1977. £700-£1,000
Andy Warhol (American 1928-1987) Italian mini check- Miniassegni for 100 Italian Lire from Banco Popolare di Novara with green dollar sign and signature dated 1977. £700-£1,000
To find out more or to arrange a free valuation of items for future Iconic Design sales, email Barry Jones: [email protected].
Image of artist: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Jean-Michel_Basquiat_1982_by_Andy_Warhol.png
