A Seller’s Guide To Jean-Michel Basquiat

After a softer performance in 2024, Basquiat’s print market has rebounded in 2025. The April auction season delivered multiple strong results, with records set across several key portfolios:

1. The Daros Suite achieved a new high at £134,495 at Sotheby’s.
2. Phillips sold the Superhero Portfolio for £143,824.
3. The complete Rinso Suite sold for £304,567.
4. An Artist Proof of Cabeza set a new record selling for $194,191 at SBI Art Auction in Japan.

These results confirm renewed demand for top-tier Basquiat prints - especially complete sets and rare artist’s proofs. Both are relatively scarce, and as seen this year, their appearance at auction drives strong competition.

Basquiat’s Top Auction Results of 2025: Baby Boom and Sabado por la Noche

The first half of 2025 reflects a subtle recalibration in Basquiat’s auction market. While large canvases remain central to marquee sales, only three works have crossed the eight-figure mark - down from five in the same period last year - reinforcing broader signs of softening at the top.

Leading results included Baby Boom, which achieved £17.6 million at Christie’s New York in May, and Untitled (1981), a major drawing that fetched £12.3 million at Sotheby’s - one of the highest prices ever paid for a work on paper by the artist. Sabado por la Noche followed at £11.1 million in Christie’s Hong Kong sale in March. Each anchored its respective sale, underscoring the continued importance of standout consignments.

In June, Untitled (Indian Head), another drawing, sold for £6.6 million at Sotheby’s London, while MP (1984) realised £4.8 million at Phillips. These results highlight growing demand for high-quality works just below the top tier, as collectors seek more accessibly priced opportunities and sellers remain selective about what to bring to market.

LVMH & Paris Exhibitions, Institutional Momentum & Market Impact in 2025

Basquiat’s visibility in 2025 is underpinned by sustained institutional momentum and cultural relevance. His growing presence in Paris - one of the fastest-expanding art capitals - has reinforced his legacy on the global stage. The Basquiat x Warhol: Painting With Four Hands exhibition at Fondation Louis Vuitton (LVMH) was one of the most comprehensive shows to date, featuring over 160 jointly created works. It further positioned Basquiat at the intersection of high art and luxury culture, expanding his reach even further among global collectors.

Soon after the exhibition, one of the featured works - a large-scale Untitled (1984) canvas by the duo - appeared at Sotheby’s May 2024 New York sale, where it achieved £15.4 million.

What Celebrity's Collect Basquait Works? From Larry Gagosian to Benny Blanco

Basquiat’s art has always resonated within celebrity circles. Larry Gagosian helped launch his commercial career in the 1980s through breakthrough exhibitions and early placements. Basquiat’s rise though, was driven by the strength of his work and his natural alignment with creatives across music, fashion, and art. His relationships - from Madonna to Warhol - weren’t endorsements; they were cultural affiliations that reflected his place in the contemporary New York art scene.

That connection continues to shape visibility and demand today. In 2024, People magazine spotlighted music producer Benny Blanco posed in front of his Basquiat artwork in their “Sexiest Man Alive” issue - a reminder that his work still resonates with high-profile collectors across generations.

Basquiat’s Great Jones Street Studio Reimagined: Atelier Jolie and the Artist’s Living Legacy

Angelina Jolie’s announcement that Atelier Jolie will open in Basquiat’s former Great Jones Street studio reinforces his lasting cultural presence. Much like the Chelsea Hotel became symbolic of a certain artistic era, Basquiat’s studio stands as one of New York’s most mythologised creative spaces - now transformed into a contemporary hub for fashion and design.

This kind of sustained visibility - across institutions, celebrity networks, and popular media - keeps Basquiat’s legacy in circulation. For sellers, it strengthens long-term demand, reinforcing the market’s aspirational pull and its relevance to a new generation of collectors.

At the top of Basquiat’s print market sit the black screenprints from 1983 - works that are not only visually striking but exceptionally rare. These editions appear infrequently at auction - historically no more than once per year - and when they do, they dramatically shift annual market figures due to their high valuations.

Two benchmark results stand out:

1. Untitled (1983), edition of 10 with 2 APs, sold for just over £3 million in 2022 - the record price for a Basquiat print.
2. Back of the Neck (1983), edition of 24, sold for £922,408 in 2023 and is now valued between £700,000 - £1 million.

These works define the peak of Basquiat’s print hierarchy. As shown in the chart above, spikes in overall signed print sales - particularly in 2022 and 2023 - are directly tied to the appearance of these works. They’re outliers that rarely come to market, and when they do, they command significant competition.

Basquiat’s Signed & Estate Prints: What Sells and Why

Signed Prints

Outside the black 1983 editions, there are several other signed works that are equally rare and consistently outperform expectations. At Phillips in April 2024, five signed screenprints from an edition of 45 sold for £142,997 - more than double their high estimate. These prints, produced during Basquiat’s formative West Coast period with New City Editions, came from the personal collection of former NBA player and artist Desmond Mason. Their strong performance underscored how signature, provenance, and early production context continue to drive value in Basquiat’s market.

There are also other editioned works that appear occasionally - most recently Untitled (from Tuxedo), a signed screenprint on canvas, which sold for $342,900 (USD) at Phillips, far surpassing its $20,000–30,000 estimate. Though produced on canvas rather than paper, its black-ground composition echoes the visual language of Basquiat’s most prized prints, reinforcing the strength of demand across both formats.

The Anatomy Series

The Anatomy collection is is the only print series Basquiat produced during his lifetime - and it remains one of the most desirable and relatively accessible. Single prints sell for £30,000+, with partial sets of three or four achieving £40,000–£50,000. A full set hasn’t surfaced publicly since 2017, when it sold for £282,240 at Sotheby’s.

Estate Prints

Posthumous, estate-authorised editions like Flexible (2016) have performed strongly, typically trading between £30,000 and £100,000. While not hand-signed, demand is sustained. The most recent release, Odours Of Punt (2024), appeared on the public market for the first time in 2025 selling for £79,517.

What Sellers Should Know

Signed prints remain the most valuable, but estate editions offer broader accessibility and consistent private market demand. At MyArtBroker, we handle both categories - providing free valuations and direct access to serious buyers.

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Provenance is critical when selling a Basquiat - especially since the Estate stopped authenticating works in 2012. Without a catalogue raisonné or formal archive, buyers and advisors rely heavily on documentation: gallery invoices, exhibition history, publication records, and past sales from recognised sources.

For original prints, identifying the publisher is a key step in verifying authenticity. The Anatomy series, for example, was published by Annina Nosei Gallery. Other early editioned works were produced by New City Editions in Venice, California, where Basquiat worked during his time on the West Coast. Lifetime prints tied to these publishers - and supported by signature and exhibition history - tend to carry more weight in the market.

For posthumous prints, authenticity hinges on correct attribution and publishing records. Since 2005, only Flatiron Editions and Pace Prints have released estate-authorised editions. Flatiron produced Hollywood Africans in Front of the Chinese Theater with Footprints of Movie Stars (2015), and in 2024, released Odours of Punt, based on a 1983 painting. Each edition varies in size and is released without regular schedule, making verification essential. Following the death of Gerard Basquiat in 2009, posthumous works are now signed by Basquiat’s aunts, Lisane Basquiat and Jeanine Heriveaux, who currently manage the estate.

Basquiat Catalogue Raisonné

Collectors also refer to Enrico Navarra’s catalogue raisonné-style survey, published in 1996 and updated in 2000. While unofficial, it remains one of the most widely used resources for verifying artworks and understanding Basquiat’s edition output.

Basquiat Collectors and Dealers

Influential collectors and dealers such as Yusaku Maezawa, Ernst Beyeler, and Jeffrey Deitch have also played a key role in building provenance around Basquiat’s market. Their involvement in private sales and institutional exhibitions - including Moderna Paintings and Valentine (1983–84) at Art Basel - adds credibility and traceability to artworks connected with their networks.

Forgeries In Basquiat's Market

Given Basquiat’s prominence, forgeries are a known risk, particularly in the prints market. Unauthorised editions and falsely attributed works do circulate, making it essential to trace provenance back to reputable galleries, publishers, or collectors. Verified documentation not only supports authenticity - it directly impacts buyer confidence and sale value.

A Personalised Experience with Dedicated Experts

Selling your Basquiat print with MyArtBroker comes with tailored support at every stage. Our platform is built to offer a personalised experience, guiding you through the process with clarity and confidence. Our team provides free, no-obligation valuations, giving you an accurate read on market value based on current demand and past performance. With specialist knowledge of both Basquiat’s market and the wider prints landscape, we deliver clear, data-informed advice.

Minimising Risk

We prioritise transparency and security in every transaction. Our live Trading Floor provides up-to-date market data, helping you understand current trends and value benchmarks. We conduct thorough checks on provenance and authenticity, and where needed, work with trusted partners to verify key details - reducing the risks that can come with high-value sales.

By operating through private sales rather than public auctions, we help sellers avoid the reputational risk of unsold lots and offer faster liquidity outside of fixed auction calendars.

Zero Seller Fees

Unlike traditional auction houses or dealers, we charge no fees to the seller. Our revenue comes from the buyer side, allowing you to retain the full value of your sale. We specialise in rare and editioned prints, offering targeted marketing, direct buyer matching, and access to our in-house magazine and digital channels - all at no extra cost.

Access to a Vast Network

With over 30,000 collectors actively engaged on our platform, we can quickly connect your Basquiat print to serious, qualified buyers. This reach not only improves speed of sale, but increases your chances of securing a strong, competitive offer.

Utilise MyPortfolio for Jean-Michel Basquiat Collection Management

MyArtBroker’s MyPortfolio tool helps collectors manage, monitor, and assess their Basquiat prints and editions using real-time market data. Powered by our proprietary algorithm SingularityX, it draws from over 50,000 auction results and private sales to deliver dynamic, accurate valuations - factoring in condition, colourway, edition type, and other key attributes that shape value.

As financial quant Stuart Jamieson outlines in our specialist interview, these algorithmic tools are part of a broader shift in the art market - one where transparency, comparability, and performance tracking are increasingly central to collecting behaviour. In a market that’s evolving rapidly, data is no longer optional - it’s infrastructure.

Advanced Art Technology for Smart Collecting

Today’s collectors expect the same level of information and agility found in financial markets. As noted in our May 2025 Market Editor Report, this shift is already reshaping how artworks are bought, sold, and valued - particularly in the prints and editions market, where liquidity, recognisability, and pricing data drive demand.

MyPortfolio puts these tools directly in the hands of sellers - streamlining collection management, monitoring market momentum, and identifying optimal selling windows. Whether you’re reviewing historical sales, pricing trends, or liquidity signals, this is a smarter, data-led approach to navigating the Basquiat market in real time.