![Brett Whiteley, ‘Nude Beside the Basin,’ $705,000. Image courtesy of Heritage Auctions, ha.com](https://www.liveauctioneers.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Brett-Whiteley.jpg)
DALLAS — On May 23, an Australian painter’s work flew out the door and an American artist’s work sped off to victory at Heritage Auctions. Key works by Brett Whiteley, the Australian artist featured in many significant collections Down Under and beyond, and Kenny Scharf, the artist who helped create New York’s last coherent downtown scene, led an event of Modern & Contemporary Art that totaled $2,923,623. At just 63 lots, the auction included strong results for Jean-Michel Basquiat, Deborah Butterfield and Betty Parsons. “Iconic works by Basquiat, Butterfield, George Rodrigue and Parsons experienced spirited bidding,” said Heritage’s Vice President of Modern & Contemporary Art Frank Hettig. “Heritage’s first offering of Australian artist Brett Whiteley soared to $705,000. And the most fun lot in the sale, bar none, was Kenny Scharf’s Astro Cumulo Uber Express, a mint-condition 1960 Cadillac Coupe De Ville that he morphed into a playful, message-heavy art piece on wheels.”