Untitled (1982). Image courtesy of Sotheby's. Call it the battle of the Basquiats. After years of rising prices and intensifying demand, the market for the beloved artist is now at a fever pitch. This week, both Christie’s and Sotheby’s will feature major works by the sought-after Haitian-American artist, who died at 27 in 1988. At Christie’s, it’s In This Case (1983), a large skull on a red background, with an unpublished estimate of about $50 million. It was reportedly consigned by fashion designer and cofounder of Valentino, Giancarlo Giammetti. Meanwhile, Versus Medici (1982) will be part of Sotheby’s sale, where it is estimated to bring in between $35 million to $50 million.