Billionaires Pump Up Basquiat With $93.1 Million Christie’s Sale, Bloomberg

Next up on the docket, though, is another series of tried-and-true market heavyweights.

The lot hammered with little fanfare—there was no audience to applaud, after all—and Sudlow moved on with the sale.

Soon, six bidders began to vie for the work, slowly pushing its price in increments ranging from $1 million to $3 million.

A painting of a skull by Jean-Michel Basquiat sold for $93.1 million at Christie’s in New York on Tuesday night, becoming the artist’s second-most expensive work to sell at auction and setting a new benchmark for this week’s blockbuster evening sales.

A painting of a skull by Jean-Michel Basquiat sold for $93.1 million at Christie’s in New York on Tuesday night, becoming the artist’s second-most expensive work to sell at auction and setting a new benchmark for this week’s blockbuster evening sales.

Notably, 11 records were set for artists at auction, with a fresh group of stars taking their place at the very top of the auction firmament.

Last year, the publishing magnate Peter Brant sold Basquiat’s 1982 painting Boy and Dog in a Johnnypump for more than $100 million to Citadel Founder Ken Griffin.

A 2016 painting by Mickalene Thomas, Racquel Reclining Wearing Purple Jumpsuit, soared above its high estimate of $600,000 to sell, with premium, for $1.83 million, more than double her previous auction record.

In the mid 1980s, the artist was making $1.4 million a year, even as his dependence on narcotics spiraled out of control.

Soon, six bidders began to vie for the work, slowly pushing its price in increments ranging from $1 million to $3 million.

In the mid 1980s, the artist was making $1.4 million a year, even as his dependence on narcotics spiraled out of control.

Soon, six bidders began to vie for the work, slowly pushing its price in increments ranging from $1 million to $3 million.

A 2016 painting by Mickalene Thomas, Racquel Reclining Wearing Purple Jumpsuit, soared above its high estimate of $600,000 to sell, with premium, for $1.83 million, more than double her previous auction record.

a person standing in front of a television: A Basquiat Painting Just Sold for $93.1 Million at Christie’s© Photographer: Cindy Ord/Getty Images A Basquiat Painting Just Sold for $93.1 Million at Christie’s The 1983 painting, titled In This Case, was estimated to sell for more than $50 million.

Notably, 11 records were set for artists at auction, with a fresh group of stars taking their place at the very top of the auction firmament.

As the lot opened up to a salesroom populated exclusively by cameras and auction house specialists, Gemma Sudlow, a senior vice president at Christie’s who was leading the auction, opened bidding at $40 million, and quickly brought its price to $52 million.

The seller on Tuesday night, according to reports, was former Valentino chairman Giancarlo Giammetti; the buyer was not immediately known.

It then sold privately in 2007 for an undisclosed sum.

Next up on the docket, though, is another series of tried-and-true market heavyweights.