An exceptional collection of prints released by the estate of tragic American artist Jean-Michel Basquiat are for sale at Bonhams Print Sale on November 29 in London.
Basquiat died of a heroin overdose aged just 27 in 1988, 18 months after his close friend and occasional collaborator, Andy Warhol. The most successful and well known black artist of his generation he left a cache of unsold and un-exhibited work.
In the years following Jean-Michel’s death, the Basquiat estate released eight screen prints in an edition of 85, signed by the artist’s father, and five of these are in the Bonhams sale. Each print is estimated at between £10,000-15,000. They reflect the styles and themes for which Basquiat was famous. Originally a graffiti artist he frequently incorporated words, symbols, maps, diagrams, advertising slogans and logos in his work, much of which depicts the human anatomy. The prints also provide echoes of some of Basquiat’s favourite paintings which he refused to sell during his lifetime and which are retained by his estate.
