Jean-Michel Basquiat: Most Expensive Paintings and Drawings Ever Sold

Basquiat paintings continue to captivate collectors and art enthusiasts alike, with their bold, expressive style and powerful social commentary. These works have become some of the most sought-after pieces in the contemporary art market.

Jean-Michel Basquiat was a groundbreaking American artist whose meteoric rise to fame in the 1980s made him one of the most iconic figures in contemporary art. Born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1960, Basquiat was of Haitian and Puerto Rican descent, and his work explored themes of race, identity, class struggle, and personal pain. Initially gaining recognition through his graffiti art under the pseudonym SAMO (short for “Same Old Shit”), Basquiat transitioned to painting and quickly became a central figure in the Neo-expressionist movement.

Basquiat art style is characterized by its bold, vibrant colors, chaotic imagery, and raw, unfiltered expression. He often incorporated text, symbols, and references to African-American culture, history, and his own experiences. His work was a fusion of street art, abstract expressionism, and social commentary, creating a powerful visual language that resonated across various cultural boundaries.

A pivotal moment in Basquiat’s career came when he formed a close friendship and professional partnership with legendary pop artist Andy Warhol. Their collaboration produced some of the most iconic works of the 1980s, blending Warhol’s commercial style with Basquiat’s more anarchic, spontaneous approach. Their partnership also led to a complex relationship, with Basquiat grappling with Warhol’s influence on his artistic identity.

Basquiat’s career was brief but intensely productive. His works garnered significant attention, and he exhibited at major galleries in New York and around the world. He was embraced by the art world’s elite, yet his art always maintained a connection to his roots in the streets of Brooklyn. Basquiat’s works, often filled with references to African heritage, civil rights, and his personal struggles with fame and substance abuse, challenged the art establishment and offered an unapologetic critique of societal norms.

Sadly, Basquiat’s life was cut short when he died of a heroin overdose at the age of 27 in 1988. Despite his early death, Basquiat’s influence has only grown, and today he is regarded as one of the most important artists of the 20th century. His work continues to inspire and resonate with new generations, and his paintings are now held in major museums and private collections worldwide.

Top Basquiat Paintings Ranked By Sale Price

14. Untitled (1982) — $29.3 Million

Sold at Christie’s in November 2013, this Untitled piece from 1982 landed squarely in its $25–$35 million estimate range. Created during Basquiat’s watershed year, when motifs like crowns and skulls began recurring heavily, this work has since appeared in a 2018 Basquiat retrospective at the Fondation Louis Vuitton in Paris.

13. Flesh and Spirit (1982–83) — $30.7 Million

Featuring a more neutral palette and scratched anatomical references, Flesh and Spirit went for $30.7 million at Sotheby’s in May 2018. The sale was complicated by an inheritance dispute between members of the Neumann family, ultimately resolved days before the auction. Its title nods to Robert Farris Thompson’s book Flash of the Spirit, reflecting Basquiat’s engagement with African diasporic art.

12. Untitled (1981) — $34.9 Million

A crowned figure anchors this 1981 Untitled, which surpassed its $20–$30 million estimate to reach $34.9 million at Christie’s in May 2014. Originally purchased by collector Anita Reiner from Basquiat’s dealer Annina Nosei, it later appeared in various exhibitions spotlighting the artist’s early successes.

11. La Hara (1981) — $35 Million

Depicting a uniformed police officer behind bars, La Hara went for $35 million at Christie’s in May 2017—an undercurrent of Basquiat’s commentary on systemic violence and policing. The painting was later included in the Guggenheim Museum’s 2019 exhibition “Basquiat’s Defacement,” which addressed the East Village community’s response to police brutality.

10. The Field Next to the Other Road (1981) — $37.1 Million

Shown at Galleria d’Arte Emilio Mazzoli in 1981, The Field Next to the Other Road features Basquiat’s early skeleton and halo motifs. In 2015, this large work sold for $37.1 million at Christie’s. A subsequent legal dispute revealed that prominent Basquiat collectors, the Mugrabi family, had been involved in its purchase.

9. Warrior (1982) — $41.9 Million

Hammered down at Christie’s Hong Kong in March 2021, Warrior was part of a single-lot sale from the collection of Aby Rosen. Purchased for $8.7 million in 2012, it soared to $41.9 million in just nine years, marking a 380% increase and setting a record for a Western artwork sold in Asia at that time.

8. Flexible (1984) — $45.3 Million

Painted on fence slats instead of canvas, Flexible stands at eight-and-a-half feet tall and shows a mythical crowned figure. Sold by Phillips in May 2018 for $45.3 million, it came directly from Basquiat’s estate—one of the few works still owned by his family before hitting the market.

7. Untitled (ELMAR) (1982) — $46.5 Million

Headlining Phillips’s New York auction in 2024, Untitled (ELMAR) carried a $60 million high estimate. Though it ultimately sold for $46.5 million, it still sits among the artist’s top results. The piece boasts notable provenance, having passed through the hands of Basquiat’s first dealer, Annina Nosei, and was originally owned by anthropologist Francesco Pellizzi.

6. Dustheads (1982) — $48.8 Million

Making headlines at Christie’s in 2013, Dustheads fetched $48.8 million amid a surge in Basquiat’s market. Its intense subject matter—two wild-eyed figures—embodies the artist’s exploration of nightlife, drug culture, and urban energy. Later, the painting became embroiled in legal and financial turmoil tied to Malaysian financier Jho Low.

5. Versus Medici (1982) — $50.8 Million

Debuting at Sotheby’s in May 2021, Versus Medici references Basquiat’s challenge to the Western canon, symbolized by the powerful Medici family. Purchased by collector Steve Wynn for $50.8 million, its layered iconography underscores the artist’s rebellion against art-historical norms and established hierarchies.

4. Untitled (Devil) (1982) — $57.3 Million

Famously featuring a devil figure, Untitled (Devil) came to Christie’s in May 2016 with a $40 million estimate but soared to $57.3 million. It was snapped up by Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa, further cementing Basquiat’s place in the top echelon of contemporary art.

3. El Gran Espectaculo (The Nile) (1983) — $67 Million

Offered by Christie’s in May 2023 from Valentino cofounder Giancarlo Giammetti’s collection, this large triptych hammered at $58 million before fees, closing at $67 million. Alive with Basquiat’s signature scrawls and references to Egyptian history and American politics, it became the fourth-highest price for any Basquiat at that time.

2. In This Case (1983) — $93.1 Million

Another monumental skull painting, In This Case belonged to Valentino cofounder Giancarlo Giammetti and sold at Christie’s in May 2021. Part of a trio—including the record-breaking Basquiat purchased by Maezawa—this 6½-foot-tall work soared to $93.1 million, reflecting Basquiat’s fascination with identity, mortality, and heroic figures.

1. Untitled (1982) — $110.5 Million

Still the most expensive Basquiat on record, this towering skull painting smashed expectations at Sotheby’s in May 2017. Last publicly seen in 1984 before reappearing at auction, it sold to Yusaku Maezawa for $110.5 million, catapulting Basquiat into the exclusive club of artists whose works surpass $100 million at auction. The sale not only set a record for Basquiat but also for any African-American artist at the time. Jean Michel Basquiat painting is sold for 110-million at auction — Source: NYT

Jean-Michel Basquiat’s Untitled (1982), which sold for a record-breaking $110.5 million, was the centerpiece of a one-painting show at the Brooklyn Museum, running through March 11, 2018. This exhibition is part of a global tour of the painting, which was purchased by a Japanese billionaire. Created during Basquiat’s early career, Untitled is a powerful example of his distinctive style, blending street art with neo-expressionism. The painting features a large, distorted skull, a recurring motif in Basquiat’s work, symbolizing both death and the human condition. The skull is depicted with exaggerated features and a bold, graphic quality that evokes memento mori, an ancient symbol of mortality.

The painting’s chaotic surface, filled with fragmented letters, numbers, and symbols, mirrors the frenetic energy of graffiti and the defaced subway walls of New York City where Basquiat began his career. The repeated use of symbols like “A,” “X,” and “O” serves as a raw form of communication, incomplete and open to interpretation. The composition’s aggressive use of color, especially the stark black, vivid red, and yellow accents, intensifies the emotional weight of the central skull, while the subtle use of peach and lavender adds a layer of nuance.

The painting’s directness is contrasted by its underlying depth. Basquiat uses drips strategically around the skull’s eyes and mouth, giving the painting a sense of interiority and adding to the skull’s emotional intensity. These details, combined with the chaotic layering of elements, invite viewers to engage with the painting on multiple levels, reflecting Basquiat’s complex exploration of identity, symbolism, and human experience. This iconic work, which helped cement Basquiat’s legacy in contemporary art, remains a testament to his ability to merge raw energy with intellectual and emotional complexity.

Basquiat’s Enduring Resonance

Basquiat’s trajectory from graffiti writer to market-dominating artist continues to influence art history and the global auction scene. His vivid symbolism, references to African and Latinx heritage, and reflections on power structures are woven into each piece, ensuring consistent demand among collectors and institutions alike. Despite passing at just 27, Basquiat left behind a body of work that resonates just as profoundly today—politically, socially, and aesthetically—as it did during the early 1980s.

Other prominent African American artists, such as Kerry James Marshall and Chris Ofili, have also achieved significant success and high auction prices, Basquiat’s works consistently command the highest prices. His art’s cultural significance, combined with his status as a trailblazer in both the art world and the representation of African American identity, has solidified his place at the top.