Christie’s to Auction Basquiat Painting in November
The 84-inch work by Jean-Michel Basquiat will be sold at a New York auction on November 19, 2026.
Updated on Oct. 21, 2026 in Fine Art
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Christie’s will auction the Jean-Michel Basquiat painting titled Untitled (Leonardo and His Five Grotesque Heads) on November 19, 2026. The artwork is expected to sell for approximately $30 million.
Why it matters
The sale marks the first public appearance of this specific piece in over two decades. The painting, which features the text Muy Fao and Alter Ego, offers a rare look at an item previously held in a private European collection.
The painting measures 84 inches by 84 inches and carries a pre-sale estimate of $30 million. This follows other major art market milestones, such as the 2017 sale of a Basquiat skull painting for $110.5 million.
The players
Jean-Michel Basquiat
He was an influential American artist who rose to prominence in the 1980s and is known for his neo-expressionist paintings.
Christie's
This is a British fine art auction house founded in 1766 that conducts major sales of art, jewelry, and luxury goods globally.
Leonardo da Vinci
He was a quintessential Renaissance polymath whose work in art and science has continued to influence global culture for centuries.
The details
The artwork is currently arriving from a private European collection to be featured at the 21st Century Evening Sale in New York. The piece is notable for its direct reference to artistic history, incorporating imagery inspired by Leonardo da Vinci's A Man Tricked by Gypsies, which dates back to 1493.
Timeline
October 20, 2026: Christie's announced the upcoming auction.
November 19, 2026: The painting will be sold at auction in New York.
Industry Dynamics
The auction of the Basquiat painting highlights the continuing strength of 20th-century art prices, following a pattern set by the 2022 sale of Andy Warhol's Shot Sage Blue Marilyn. These high-value sales underscore the ongoing market demand for blue-chip contemporary works.
The painting will be presented for viewing ahead of the public auction scheduled for November 19, 2026, in New York. Interested collectors and art enthusiasts can monitor the event to see if the final bid meets or exceeds the current $30 million estimate.
The takeaway
Large-scale art auctions often serve as a bellwether for the broader luxury goods market. Prospective collectors should monitor historical valuation trends to understand how specific artists like Basquiat maintain their long-term value.
Further reading
For more information on the current state of the art market, see the latest updates in Fine Art.
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