Six Basquiat works will briefly go on view to the public in London before the mid-October auctions. For those of you near London, this is a time to see the paintings Spike, and Pedestrian 2 (both 1984); several minor Basquiat drawings; and one Warhol / Basquiat collaboration.

The collaboration, Thin Lips (1984-5), is basically a Warhol painting commenting on then Republican president Ronald Regan’s deficit, caused by increasing spending on the military and decreasing taxes on the rich – a very surprisingly contemporary theme – with minor oilstick additions by Basquit.

To my mind, Spike is the major Basquiat piece to be seen in this batch, one of his spare, see-thru griot figures with a mysterious presence.

The works are spread between Christies, Sothebys, and Phillip de Pury, and on view from October 6th to the 15h. Details on what works are showing at which London auction house, exact places and dates of preview, and links to on-line images of all the works can be seen on the auction pages of this site.