The original title of this article by George Nelson (ARTnews) is “A $4 M. Jean-Michel Basquiat Painting Leads Phillips’ October London Sales.” The work in question is Basquiat’s “Untitled (Pestus)”—at auction by Phillips on October 16, 2025, during Frieze Week.
Phillips has revealed the lineup for its upcoming October London sales during Frieze next week. Jean-Michel Basquiat’s 1982 work on paper, Untitled (Pestus), will headline the house’s modern and contemporary evening auction on October 16. It carries a £3 million ($4 million) high estimate.
Created during what would later be described as Basquiat’s annus mirabilis, the work “deftly encompasses this vision, distilling the immediacy and raw energy of Basquiat’s mark making,” the lot’s catalog entry reads, noting that the artist once described his subject matter as focusing on “royalty, heroism, and the streets.” [. . .]
“Frieze Week is a moment when London truly comes alive with art, and we are excited to be part of that energy,” Olivia Thornton, Phillips’s head of modern and contemporary art, Europe, said in a statement. “This season, we are proud to offer a sale that reflects the vibrancy of contemporary collecting, bringing together key names, emerging voices, and works that challenge and inspire.”
The house’s modern and contemporary day sale follows on October 18. Leading it is a Keith Haring bronze panel, as well as pieces by Warhol, Basquiat, Anselm Kiefer, and Yoshitomo Nara.
For full article, see https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/jean-michel-basquiat-work-phillips-frieze-week-sales-london-1234755733/
[Shown above: Jean-Michel Basquiat’s 1982 work on paper, Untitled (Pestus), headlines the house’s modern and contemporary evening auction on October 16.]