Basquiat painting could reach $30m at spring auction in NYC

Basquiat: A remarkable painting by Jean-Michel Basquiat, noted for its iconic elements like the crown, expressive face, and textual elements, is slated for auction at Christie’s in New York. Titled “The Italian Version of Popeye has no Pork in his Diet,” this 1982 masterpiece, part of Basquiat’s acclaimed series using visible stretcher bars, is anticipated to command an estimated price of around $30 million. Sourced from a private collection in New York, the artwork was last exhibited in Milan between 2006 and 2007.

Alex Rotter, Christie’s chairman of 20th- and 21st-century art, praised the painting, declaring it “Basquiat’s finest stretcher-bar painting.” He described the 5ft by 5ft canvas as a rich composition of Basquiat's genius, combining symbolism, textual narratives, and portraiture to capture the frenzy of his artistic influences from various domains.

Scheduled for auction during Christie’s 21st-century art event on May 14 at its Rockefeller Center venue, this piece joins a host of other significant Basquiats entering the market this spring in New York. In addition to Christie’s, Phillips will be auctioning two notable works: “Untitled (ELMAR)” from 1982, expected to fetch between $40m and $60m, and the 1981 piece “Untitled (Portrait of a Famous Ballplayer),” with an estimated price of $6.5m to $8.5m. Phillips will also feature another Basquiat later in May at a Hong Kong sale. Additionally, Sotheby’s plans to offer a significant collaborative piece between Basquiat and Andy Warhol, a 13ft-wide untitled canvas from 1984, projected to sell for about $18m.

The surge in Basquiat’s artworks at auction underscores his enduring relevance in the art world. Concurrently, Gagosian is showcasing an exhibition of Basquiat’s works created in Los Angeles, available for viewing in Beverly Hills until June 1. Meanwhile, the repercussions of a 2022 forgery scandal involving Basquiat’s works at the Orlando Museum of Art are still resolving in the courts. Basquiat’s legacy continues to grow, reaching new audiences with a documentary soon to be released, co-produced by notable figures including Travis Kelce, an American football star and Taylor Swift’s boyfriend.