Basquiat’s Earliest Known 'Head' Drawing to Hit Sotheby’s Auction
Created when Basquiat was just 18 years old.
Summary
- The earliest known example of Basquiat’s iconic “Head” motif
- Offered on Sotheby’s with an estimate of $100,000 to $150,000 USD
- Acquired directly from Basquiat and remained in same private collection
There’s no shortage of Basquiats making a big market splash with one of the late artist’s paintings, “Saturday Night,” having nabbed a mighty healthy $14.5 million USD during Christie’s Hong Kong auction in March. But now, a much more rare and never-before-auctioned drawing by Jean-Michel Basquiat will soon be up for auction at Sotheby’s.
Titled “Untitled (1978),” the work is described to be the earliest known example of Basquiat’s iconic “Head” motif which he created at 18 years old. Basquiat’s “Head” figuration is considered to be a cornerstone of his visual language that would later spur creations of some his most celebrated works of his career.
Offered with an estimate of $100,000 to $150,000 USD, the ballpoint pen drawing captures a distorted, psychologically charged face composed of bulging features, exposed teeth and sharp linework. The piece was acquired directly from Basquiat the same year it was created and has remained in the same private collection for over 45 years. The sale is an opportune moment for any type of collector, young or old, to grab a Basquiat drawing at this level and especially at this price point.
Executed before Basquiat had gallery representation or mainstream recognition, the “Untitled” work foreshadows the expressive power and layered symbolism that would later become signature visuals of his practice. The “Head,” which is often illustrated as part mask, part skull, part x-ray, would live across his most iconic paintings that often explored themes of Black identity, mortality and cultural memory.
With so few early drawings in circulation, the emergence of this 1978 piece represents a significant moment in the market for Basquiat’s work. The work is set to go under the hammer at Sotheby’s on May 16 at 2PM EDT.
