US art auction lead Basquiat portrait scores record 57.3 million

NEW YORK: A huge self portrait by Jean Michel Basquiat brought 57.3 million at auction in New York Tuesday a record for the late American artist, Christies said.

His previous record came in May 2013 when his Dustheads sold for 48.8 million.

On Tuesday an unnamed Asian collector bought the massive seven by 16 foot (two and a half by five meter) untitled self portrait from 1982 painted in Italy.

The young Haitian American artist who pictured himself in the work with a demonic image among popping colors died of a drug overdose at age 27 in 1988. Spring art auctions in New York began late Sunday and last through Thursday.

The 1 500 odd pieces up for sale this week are expected to bring in more than a billion dollars.

Auguste Rodin s Eternal Springtime marble sculpture of lovers fetched more than 20 million Monday a record for the French sculptor at Sotheby s in New York.

A statue of Hitler on his knees was auctioned Sunday for 17.2 million a record for a work by the Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan.