Basquiat's Monumental 'Flexible' Painting Expected to Sell for Over $20 Million USD
First time ever being up for auction.
Following a major Jean-Michel Basquiat retrospective at London’s Barbican last September, the impressionist works of the late graffiti artist turned rock star painter continue to break news stories with premier auction house Phillips gearing up for a new sale of one of his most iconic pieces.
Titled Flexible, the approximately eight-foot-tall painting was made by Basquiat back in 1984 when he was only 23 years old. It will be up for auction for the first time in Phillips’ New York Evening Sale of 20th Century & Contemporary Art this May. Moreover, the painting was consigned directly from the artist’s estate and is expected to sell for over $20 million USD at the upcoming auction.
“Our father’s goal in forming and maintaining our brother’s estate was to educate the public about Jean-Michel as an artist and to ensure that his creative output remains available to them in perpetuity. The sale of this stunning work will help us continue our important mission of stewarding and preserving Jean-Michel’s legacy, as he now continues to inspire a new generation of artists three decades after his passing,” said Jeanine Basquiat and Lisane Basquiat, the artist’s sisters and managers of the Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat.
Flexible will be on display in Los Angeles, California for a public viewing ahead of its sale from April 10-13. The work will be among the highlights of Phillips’ New York Evening Sale of 20th Century & Contemporary Art to commence on May 17.
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