The slow days in the aftermath of any cycle of sales is filled with speculation, note-comparing and outright guessing over who bought which work and who sold what.
Kenny Schachter was looking around the room a lot during the auctions. Here’s his speculation on the consignor:
One could have mistaken the boat atop a person I assumed to be Pharrell to be the headgear of the Canadian Mounties. I was later informed this was in fact Swizz Beatz. When an early, small Basquiat work on paper (no less) went over estimate at $13 million (estimate $9–12 million) there was more whooping and high-fiving than at a party thrown by my 17-year-old. It seemed to mean that Swizz, husband of Alicia Keys, was the seller of the work and two-timing Sotheby’s in the process where he has brought in clients for IC’s (introductory commissions). Basquiat is tattooed on Swizz’s forearm.
Update: Others disputes this idea. One market participant says they know the seller and it is not Swizz Beats.
Kenny Schachter’s New York Auctions Diary — Vulture.
