On May 13, Christie’s will offer a rare painting by Jean-Michel Basquiat during its Evening Auction of Post-War and Contemporary Art in New York. The work, which has resided in the same private collection since it was acquired from Annina Nosei’s SoHo gallery in 1982, is expected to fetch between $20 million and $30 million.

Basquiat’s graffiti-inspired Neo-expressionist and Primitivist paintings are highly sought after by collectors and remain influential in the realm of contemporary art. “Untitled,” which was created in 1981, the year that Basquiat transitioned from the underground art scene to international stardom, is frenetic, bold, and colorful -- characteristics that define the artist’s style. Brimming with gestural lines, broad strokes, and flat expanses of color, the work also exemplifies Basquiat’s technique during this period.

“Untitled” ranks among Basquiat’s largest canvases and has not been seen publicly until now. The work is being offered by the heirs of the painting’s original owner, Anita Reiner.