His 3.6 meter wide work of art Jean Michel – Basquiat 1983 from the collection of Italian fashion designer Valentino Garavani is estimated to sell for $45 million at a Christie’s auction in May.

If the estimates are confirmed, the work will join the list of the late artist’s most expensive ones sold publicly.

The painting, titled “El Gran Espectaculo” (The Nile), depicts floating skulls and figures against a background with engraved phrases that refer to pharaohs and ancient Egyptian sites. In the center of the painting, the god Osiris is depicted in a yellow boat sailing on the river Nile.

The Basquiat work was in Garavani’s personal collection for 18 years and was featured in a 2010 issue of Vanity Fair. The Italian fashion mogul was photographed sitting in front of the painting.

Four years earlier, Garavani paid tribute to the artist with a collection of graffiti-patterned dresses using his images, after obtaining permission from the Basquiat Archives foundation.

In May 2021, Valentino co-founder Giancarlo Giametti sold a 1983 Basquiat painting for $93.1 million.