After capturing the worlds attention at the Basquiat Sothebys auction in New York last May, Yusaku Maezawa is ready for his close-up with the famous Japanese photographer, Yasunary Kikuma.
Honoring Basquiats barefoot look for a 1986 New York Times Magazine cover, Maezawa posed shoeless in front of a solid blue backdrop for the admired photographer.
The 1982 Jean-Michel Basquiats Untitled, bought by the 41-year-old E-commerce entrepreneur at $110.5 million, was expected to edge out the artists previous record of $57.3 million, also set by Meazawa in 2016. However, most auction aficionados were holding their breaths during the Sothebys auction when the price rapidly rose from $57 to $68 Million, offered by a telephone bidder that turned out being Maezawa, who was participating in the auction twelve hours ahead from his home in Tokyo.
WATCH THE BATTLE FOR BASQUIAT
The battle for the art piece was intense and made nervous at the Sothebys salesroom as a new bidder rose this paddle and with it, the price for the Basquiat entering in a back and forth fight for several minutes that ended up $30 million later when Meazawa took the painting with a $98 million phone bid.
Usually, at any action, rumors and speculations concerning the identity of the buyer start as soon as the $100 million bar is broken; however, this wasnt the case for the the Basquiat sale as Maezawa posted a picture on Instagram of standing next to the painting during a private viewing in New York a few days before the Auction, with a caption that reads: I am happy to announce that I just won this masterpiece. When I first encountered this painting, I was struck with so much excitement and gratitude for my love of art. I want to share that experience with as many people as possible.
Maezawa, who has 75K followers on Instagram, recently commented about his views on social media: I believe information sharing and openness allow things to become more fairly evaluated. Adding, My announcement of the Basquiat purchase onInstagramhas provided an opportunity for the world to reassess and acknowledge the outstanding talent of the artist. On the other hand, I also look for the works of completely unknown and young artists on Instagram and actually purchase their works if I feel the quality is good.
To follow him on Instagram, @yusaku2020, is to follow his journey as collector and to enter a world where art is found and defined in everyday life. His social media accounts are a window into Maezawas world and his vision as an innovative and passionate collector that is guided by his instincts, sensibility and eye for quality, according to Amy Cappellazzo, chairman of Sothebys Fine Art Division.
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