Lot 66: Ouattara Watts (Ivory Coast, born 1957) Abstract (masked figure)

Ouattara Watts (Ivory Coast, born 1957)
Abstract (masked figure) inscribed 'Ouattara Watts/ New York/ 2015' (verso)mixed media on canvas120 x 120cm (47 1/4 x 47 1/4in).

Born and raised in Abidjan, Watts moved to Paris in 1977 to study at the prestigious École nationale supérieure des beaux-arts. Following his graduation, he was talent spotted by the curator, Gaya Goldcymer, who helped to stage his first exhibition. The show was a success, attracting the attention of collectors including Claude Picasso.However, Watts's real break came when he met Jean-Michel Basquiat at the opening of one of the American artist's exhibitions. Basquiat visited Watts's studio, and was so impressed with what he saw that he urged him to hold a solo show in New York. The works were so positively received that the gallery joined Basquiat in encouraging Watts to relocate to the Big Apple. Sadly Basquiat's untimely death prevented the two men collaborating further, but Watts moved to New York soon after, where he lives and works to this day. Since the first sell out exhibition, Watts has shown his works at various venues including Gagosian Gallery in New York, Magazzinno d'Arte Moderna in Rome, and participated in the 2018 Dakar Biennial.