Jean-Michel Basquiat

Annina Nosei Gallery, New York
Sotheby's, New York, February 16, 1989, Lot 344
Galerie Fabien Boulakia, Paris
Cornette de Saint-Cyr, Paris, October 13, 2001, Lot 71
Acquired by the present owner from the above sale

Paris, Galerie Fabien Boulakia, Basquiat, September - November 1990, p. 22, illustrated in color

This work is in very good condition. There is very minor yellowing to the extreme edges that is not visible when the work is framed. There are several unobtrusive handling marks to the sheet, likely due to the working method of the artist. There is a soft crease to the upper left corner. Framed under glass in an ornate wood frame. Please note the correct title for this work is Untitled (Poedi) not Poedi as listed in the catalogue. In addition, this work is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity issued by the Authentication Committee of the Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

The meaning of a word was often irrelevant to Jean-Michel Basquiat.  He sometimes employed words as abstract objects that could be seen as configurations of straight and curved lines coming together to form a visual pattern.  For Basquiat, the visual and graphic impact of printed letters was strong enough to stand alone as artistic expression.  Conversely, he also used these patterns as containers of meaning when they alluded to subjects that appealed to him or when they are conceptually or associatively connected to other words.
Richard D. Marshall (Jean Michel Basquiat, In Word Only, Cheim & Read, New York, 2005, n.p.)