The Basquiat estate, which no longer authenticates work by the artist, is upset that Christie’s did not submit the Alexis Adler sale for authentication, according to the New York Post:
Out of the roughly 40-piece collection from Basquiat’s former lover Alexis Adler, the estate’s authentication committee was only presented with seven pieces for inspection, according to the Manhattan federal lawsuit filed by sisters Jeanine Basquiat Henveaux and Lisan Basquiat.
The committee rejected one of the seven works, the suit says. The members believe the $300,000 radiator with the word “Milk” painted across the middle was not done by Basquiat, according to court papers.
The suit says that, unlike with past auctions, Christie’s never bothered to submit the remaining items to the authentication committee because it knew the works were not done by the graffiti artist-turned-art world superstar.
“If the items in the catalog are not authenticated, they are virtually worthless,” the sibling executors claim in court papers filed Tuesday morning.
Update: Christie’s has released a statement concerning the Basquiat work on offer from Alexis Adler:
Christie’s have been in direct and amicable contact with Administrators of the Basquiat Estate about the Estate’s concerns regarding works by Jean-Michel Basquiat that are to be offered for sale by Christie’s on behalf of Alexis Adler. As a result of those talks, Christie’s is moving forward with Thursday’s First Open sale as planned, with the exclusion of a single lot to allow for further review and research. We are pleased to offer these works in celebration of Jean-Michel Basquiat’s artistic legacy and we look forward to continuing the close working relationship that Christie’s and the Estate have enjoyed for many years.
Upcoming Basquiat auction may be full of fakes: lawsuit (NYPost)
