Christie’s has shut down the online sale and exhibit of Alexis Adler’s Jean-Michel Basquiat works following a $1 million lawsuit from the late artist’s estate claiming some of the works could be fakes.
“Our goal is to allow time for all parties involved to reach an equivalent level of confidence in the validity of these items, so that the sale may resume at a later date,” says a statement from the auction house.
Two authenticated pieces from Adler, Basquiat’s former roommate, have already been sold: a plaster wall piece, “Olive Oyl,” for $569,000, and a door labeled “Famous Negro Athletes,” for $773,000.
The sale was originally scheduled to run through this Monday, leaving keen collectors sorely disappointed.