To be honest, I don’t have a particularly strong eye for art, just don’t have the background and exposure to be a leading authority of on the topic. However, I do have a strong understanding and appreciation for individuality, success and hard work. These are things that describe Jean-Michael Basquiat.

In 2013, Basquiat’s painting of two figures stoned on PCP, a hallucinogenic drug, was put up for sale at Christie’s in New York.

Christie’s is a prominent art auction facility that has been well respected around the world.

The painting was called ‘Dustheads’ and estimated to sale in the $25 to $30 million dollar range. However, the actual purchase price blew that expectation out of the water and landed on $48.8 million dollars when the final auction gavel fell.

WHOA!

Basquiat’s previous record of $26.4 million

Basquiat’s previous record of $26.4 million was set the previous November, but this number was crushed by the “Dustheads” painting. However, Basquiat has been on quite a run recently as this was the 4th time in 12 months his painting broke his previous high.

Jean-Michael Basquiat dominates the contemporary, modern art scene despite his death in 1988 at the age of 28 years old. He was born in 1960.

When asked about his artistic style, Kellie Jones said:

“Basquiat’s canon revolves around single heroic figures: athletes, prophets, warriors, cops, musicians, kings and the artist himself. In these images the head is often a central focus, topped by crowns, hats, and halos. In this way the intellect is emphasized, lifted up to notice, privileged over the body and the physicality of these figures (i.e. black men) commonly represent in the world.”

— Kellie Jones, Lost in Translation: Jean-Michel in the (Re)Mix

Source: Spectator.co.uk