HONG KONG.- Christie's announced Baby Boom by Jean-Michel Basquiat as the top highlight of the 21st Century Evening Sale taking place on May 14 at Christie’s New York during the Spring Marquee Week (estimate: $20 – 30 million). With a title referencing the rise in birthrates post-World War II, the work is a triple portrait believed to depict the artist alongside his parents—from left to right the figures are Basquiat, his father Gerard and his mother Matilda. Baby Boom was executed in 1982, known as Basquiat’s annus mirabilis, both a pivotal moment in his career and a highly coveted year for collectors, during which he created seven of his top 10 priced artworks.


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Isabella Lauria, Head of 21st Century Evening Sale, Christie’s, remarks: “First shown in the Fun Gallery in 1982, this is an exemplary Basquiat stretcher bar painting that stands alongside the most important portraiture he created. The three featured figures in this work are thought to be the artist alongside his parents, adorned with halo-like crowns. Resembling a three-paneled altarpiece of the Renaissance, Baby Boom is Basquiat’s contemplation of family lineage, royalty, and spirituality. We are thrilled to showcase it as the lead highlight of the 21st Century Evening Sale this spring.”

Baby Boom has an extraordinary exhibition history; it was included in a multitude of the artist’s solo shows across the world both during his life and posthumously. It was among the works shown in the famed November 1982 Fun Gallery exhibition – considered the most important show of his life. It was featured at highly celebrated retrospectives within the last 20 years at institutions including the Brooklyn Museum in 2005, Foundation Beyeler in 2010 and Fondation Louis Vuitton in 2019.



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