Basquiat's 'Untitled (Devil)' from Modena Period Heads to Phillips New York Auction

Phillips has announced the sale of Jean-Michel Basquiat's monumental painting 'Untitled (Devil)' (1982) as the highlight of its 20th Century & Contemporary Art Evening Sale in New York on May 18. The work, previously owned by Japanese entrepreneur Yusaku Maezawa, was acquired by him from Christie's in 2016. Maezawa, founder of the online fashion empire Zozotown, holds the record for the highest price paid for a Basquiat work: $110.487 million for an untitled 1982 piece at Sotheby's New York in 2017. 'Untitled (Devil)' was created during Basquiat's stay in Modena, Italy, at the invitation of gallerist Emilio Mazzoli in 1981–1982. The painting is featured on the cover of the artist's catalogue raisonné. Recent Basquiat market highlights include Christie's November 2021 sale of 'The Guilt of Gold Teeth' (1982) for $40 million, Sotheby's May 2021 sale of 'Versus Medici' (1982) for $50 million, and Christie's Hong Kong March 2021 sale of 'Warrior' (1982) for a record for a Western painting in Asia. Before the auction, 'Untitled (Devil)' will be exhibited in London, Los Angeles, Taipei, and New York.