NEW YORK (AP) - A Japanese online retailer is the buyer of a self-portrait by Jean-Michel Basquiat (zhahn mee-SHEHL’ BAH’-skee-aht) that sold for a world auction record of $57.3 million in New York City.
Yusaku Maezawa purchased Basquiat’s monumental “Untitled, 1982” at a Christie’s contemporary art sale Tuesday evening. The painting portrays the young artist as a fiery demonic figure.
Maezawa bought four other works at the auction for a combined total of $81.4 million.
Maezawa says he plans to open a private museum in his hometown of Chiba, on the outskirts of Tokyo. He says he hopes to show the painting to the public in the near future.
Basquiat’s previous auction record was $48.8 million.
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