Baring its teeth and adorned with the crown of thorns, the protagonist of Jean-Michel’s Basquiat’s Untitled emerges from vigorous and animated markings in oil stick and graphite in saturated shades of scarlet, green, turquoise, and yellow along with black, which provides structure and a counterpoint to the rich and fiery colors. Executed in 1982, during what is considered to be one of the artist’s most productive years, the present work stands as a paragon of Basquiat’s singular vision at the height of his career. Acquired as a gift to the present owner in 1982, Untitled has remained in the same private collection for over four decades.
Untitled will be part of the Contemporary Curated Sale on 1 March 2024.