Jean-Michel Basquiat's In Colour is expected to lead sales in an important auction of modern and contemporary art on May 22 in Dallas.

Jean-Michel Basquiat's In Colour

The piece boasts the highest estimate in an array of works from 20th century luminaries such as Pablo Picasso, Andy Warhol and Amedeo Modigliani.

Basquiat began his career as a graffiti artist in New York in 1976, before evolving into a Neo-expressionist painter.

Following his tragic death at the age of 27, his work has seen increasing popularity at auction. In 2007 an untitled work from 1981 sold for $14.6m at Sotheby's, setting a record for the artist which has yet to be beaten.

In Colour is a surprisingly sparse, scrawled piece produced by Basquait in 1986. Featuring a reference to Raymond Chandler's 1953 novel The Long Goodbye, the work is reflective of an artist who struggled with a heroin addiction. It is expected to bring $120,000-200,000.

Andy Warhol, a good friend and collaborator of Basquiat, will also feature in the auction. His 1981 Superman screenprint, produced using diamond dust, is expected to bring $80,000-100,000. It is one of three Warhol works to appear, with 1967's Marilyn and 1987's Moonwalk estimated at $60,000+ and $50,000+, respectively.

Picasso's coloured linoleum cut Dejeuner sur l'herb is expected to garner strong attention at the auction, following the success of his works in the Christie's Impressionist Sale on May 3 in which Le Repos, starring his famed mistress Marie-Thérése Walter, sold for $9.8m. Dejeuner sur l'herb is expected to bring $80,000-100,000, but may exceed this estimate considerably.

A drawing from Amedeo Modigliani, entitled Femme nue assise, will also go to auction with an identical estimate to the Picasso works.

PFC auctions has a fantastic lithograph signed by Picasso is its current auction, which opened for bids on May 3.