Depp sells Basquiat work for $6.8 million

Pork, by Jean-Michel Basquiat. [Photo provided to China Daily]

A painting from the collection of American actor Johnny Depp, 53, fetched $6.8 million to top a London auction on Wednesday night.

Pork is one of the eight paintings and drawings of American artist Jean-Michel Basquiat that were offered by Depp for Christie's sale of post-war and contemporary art. It was executed in 1981, and was acquired by Depp from gallery chain Blum & Poe's space in Los Angeles.

Jean-Michel Basquiat transformed from a street graffiti artist to a celebrity figure in the art community, known for his highly personalized and primitive painting style. He died prematurely at age 27 because of heroin overdose.

Basquiat's 1982 canvas, Untitled, was sold for $53 million to Japanese collector Yusaku Maezawa in a Christie's sale in May in New York. It sets an auction record for the artist.

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