A rare drawing by Jean-Michel Basquiat, "Untitled (1978)," is set to be auctioned at Sotheby's on May 16, 2025, at 2 PM EDT. Estimated to fetch between $100,000 and $150,000 USD, this piece is the earliest known example of Basquiat's iconic "Head" motif, created when he was just 18 years old.
The ballpoint pen drawing depicts a distorted face with bulging features and sharp linework, charged with psychological intensity. This "Head" figuration is a cornerstone of Basquiat's visual language, foreshadowing themes of Black identity, mortality, and cultural memory that he would explore in his later works.
Having remained in the same private collection for over 45 years after being acquired directly from Basquiat in 1978, its auction represents a significant opportunity for collectors to acquire an early drawing by the artist at this price point. Sotheby's Contemporary Day Auction will feature this and other works.