Lot 39

Lot 52

Lot 459

Lot 455

Lot 456

As I reported here in March, the estate of artist Jean Michel Basquiat has taken the unusual step of consigning artworks directly to auction. The estate is selling six works at Sotheby’s. Now that the May contemporary catalogs are out, I wanted to follow up with the details.

The paintings are expected to tally up to $8.6 million and include three paintings in the May 12 evening sale: A nearly 10-foot wide 1984 collaboration between Andy Warhol and Basquiat, priced $2 million to $3 million (lot 40). Warholian elements include a silkscreen ‘Zenith’ TV logo. Basquiat elements include skeleton-like sculls.

The evening sale also includes the 1983 Flash in Naples, depicting a of superhero figure decked out in red suit with a bolt of lightening across the chest. The  figure is stands on an unusual gridded background. The painting (lot 39) is estimated to sell for up to $2 million. The seven-foot tall Untitled (Stardust) with a sax-player, is estimate up to $2.5 million (lot 52).

The May 13 day sale includes three more pieces, including a oil stick on board, a monotype and an oil on wood repeating the word Tar.