Black Artists Bring in Millions at Auction.

Basquiat, Kerry James Marshall, and Barkley L. Hendricks are redefining what it means to be a “Blue Chip” artist.

At a Sotheby’s auction on Wednesday night, pieces from each artist went for exceptionally high final bids.

While Basquiat’s status as a New York cultural icon has long resulted in eight and even nine-figure price tags for the artist’s work, both Marshall and Hendricks far exceeded expectation.

Barkley L. Hendricks

(LEFT)“Brenda P” from 1974, by Barkley L. Hendricks. The work sold for $2.2 million, over double its $700,000 to $1,000,000 estimate.

(RIGHT) “Dancer” by Barkley L. Hendricks sold for $2,055,000, well above its $400,000 — $600,000 estimate.

Basquiat

“Flesh and Spirit” by Jean-Michel Basquiat sold for $30.7 million.

Kerry James Marshall

“Past Times” by Kerry James Marshall. This 1997 painting had an estimate of $8 million, but $21.1 million, 4 times the highest amount that painting by Marshall has ever earned.



The ongoing high for black artists at auction was kicked off last year, when a Basquiat piece sold for a record-breaking $110.5 million. Since then, works by black artists have been fetching increasingly higher price tags.