Editor’s Note
This spring, Phillips will present three major works by Jean-Michel Basquiat from the collection of the late scholar and collector Francesco Pellizzi. All pieces were acquired directly from the artist’s early dealer, Annina Nosei.
This spring, Phillips will celebrate the legacy of Jean-Michel Basquiat by presenting three major works from the collection of Francesco Pellizzi and his family. Professor Pellizzi was a co-founder and editor of the academic journal ‘Res: Anthropology and Aesthetics,’ published by the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology and the University of Chicago Press. All three works were purchased by Pellizzi from Annina Nosei in the early 1980s, a decisive turning point in Basquiat’s career, and remained in Pellizzi’s collection for decades. This marks the first time these key works will be offered at auction in Evening Sales in New York and Hong Kong.
Jean-Michel Basquiat, “Untitled (ELMAR),” 1982, 172.7 x 236.5 cm, Estimate: $40-60 million USD, to be offered in the New York Sale on May 14.
Jean-Michel Basquiat, “Untitled (Portrait of a Famous Ballplayer),” 1981, 127.3 x 110.5 cm, Estimate: $6.5-8.5 million USD, to be offered in the New York Sale on May 14.
Jean-Michel Basquiat, “Native Carrying Some Guns, Bibles, Amorites on Safari,” 1982, 183.2 x 182.2 cm, Estimate: $12-18 million USD / 90-120 million HKD, to be offered in the Hong Kong Sale on May 31.
“Untitled (ELMAR)” (1982) and “Untitled (Portrait of a Famous Ballplayer)” (1981) will be offered in the New York Sale on May 14. “Native Carrying Some Guns, Bibles, Amorites on Safari” (1982) will be offered in the Hong Kong Sale two weeks later on May 31. Prior to the sales, the three works will be unveiled in an exhibition in New York from April 8-14, followed by a tour to Los Angeles from April 23-25, marking the final opportunity for the public to view the trio together. “Native Carrying Some Guns, Bibles, Amorites on Safari” (1982) will be on view in Taipei on May 4-5, and subsequently at the Hong Kong preview from May 22-31.
— Robert Manley, Deputy Chairman & Co-Head of 20th Century & Contemporary Art
The centerpiece of the offering is “Untitled (ELMAR),” created in 1982 and purchased by the Pellizzi family just two years later. This monumental work, nearly 240 cm wide, is foundational to Basquiat’s golden period of transition from street art to gallery success. Rich in iconographic and self-referential imagery, as seen in his greatest masterpieces, it features a bird-like “fallen angel” with a “crown of thorns” (a recurring motif) on the left, hovering over a radiant blue sea with scribbled waves and the letters “ELMAR,” suggesting a modern Icarus about to fall. On the right, a similarly crowned, radiant archer shoots two arrows. The work reflects Basquiat’s exploration of duality in his own identity, encapsulating the artist at the peak of his creativity.
Its exhibition history is notable: after being shown in a 1989 exhibition of the Francesco Pellizzi Collection at the Hofstra University Museum, New York, it was featured in a 1998 posthumous tribute at Gagosian Gallery, Los Angeles, gracing the cover of the exhibition catalogue. More recently, it was prominently featured in the historic 2018 retrospective at the Fondation Louis Vuitton in Paris.
As seen in “Untitled (Portrait of a Famous Ballplayer),” 1981 was a decisive year for Basquiat’s groundbreaking shift from street art to canvas. This ambitious work from his transitional period is a testament to his exploration of race, identity, and American culture, themes that remained consistent throughout his career. It has been exhibited in numerous historic shows, including a Jean-Michel Basquiat retrospective organized by Nosei in December 1988, just months after his untimely death, on what would have been his 28th birthday.
The work centers a Black figure in a baseball uniform, juxtaposed with symbols of the “all-American” sport alongside Basquiat’s characteristic text and crown motifs. Here, Basquiat challenges social norms, confronts stereotypes, and invites viewers into a complex dialogue about inclusion and exclusion in American culture. The phrase “FAMOUS NEGRO ATHLETES,” with “NEGRO ATHLETES” crossed out, serves as a powerful comment on race, identity, and representation, reflecting Basquiat’s own experience as a Black artist living and working in a predominantly white art world.
Since becoming a key operator in Asia in 2015, Phillips has been dedicated to presenting the best of Western art to collectors and enthusiasts across the region. Our significant growth in Asia underscores the vibrant activity of Asian collectors acquiring works by the most important international artists. Jean-Michel Basquiat is a prime example. Asian collectors are drawn to his work, which deeply resonates with the region’s rich artistic traditions. The “Untitled” (1982) offered by Phillips in 2022 from the collection of Japanese entrepreneur Yusaku Maezawa was purchased by an Asian private collector. Reflecting Basquiat’s uninterrupted appeal and resonance in Asia, “Native Carrying Some Guns, Bibles, Amorites on Safari” (1982) will be offered at Phillips Hong Kong on May 31.
In this work, a Black figure with raised hands dominates the canvas, confronting colonial-era poachers. Merging precise draftsmanship with street-art gestures, Basquiat addresses weighty themes like slavery and empire. Through direct imagery and incorporated text, he critiques colonial economies and narrates broader themes of colonization, commercialization, and African American history. The caricatured figures represent the “native” and the “settler,” evoking a clear critique of white imperialism. “Native Carrying Some Guns, Bibles, Amorites on Safari” is an iconic Basquiat work that reflects his sharp awareness of social issues and captures his powerful artistic vision.