New York’s art scene is bracing for another potential record-breaking sale as Christie’s announces the upcoming auction of Jean-Michel Basquiat’s powerful 1982 painting, Baby Boom, per artnews.com. Estimated to fetch between $20 million and $30 million during the May sales, this significant work from the artist’s pivotal year promises to ignite fierce bidding among collectors eager to own a piece of art history.
Created during the same prolific period that produced Basquiat’s $110.5 million record-holder, Baby Boom holds historical significance. It was notably featured in a groundbreaking 1982 exhibition at the Fun Gallery, a show credited with catapulting Basquiat to art stardom. The canvas depicts three compelling figures, believed to be the artist and his parents, adorned with symbolic crowns in Basquiat’s signature style that fuses raw graffiti energy with modernist influences reminiscent of Picasso.
Isabella Lauria, Christie’s head of 21st-century art sales, describes the work as a “three-panelled altarpiece” that delves into themes of “family lineage, royalty and spirituality.” This isn’t the first time Baby Boom has appeared on the market; it was previously offered privately for $30 million in 2017. As one of the most sought-after contemporary artists, Basquiat’s works consistently command high prices, and if Baby Boom reaches its upper estimate, it will solidify its place among his most valuable publicly auctioned pieces. Art enthusiasts and collectors alike will be watching closely when the painting goes under the hammer on May 14 as part of Christie’s 21st-century art sale.
•Featured image: Jean-Michel Basquiat, Baby Boom, 1982/ Christie’s Images Ltd., 2025
