Untitled (1982 Basquiat skull painting) explained

Untitled is a painting created by American artist Jean-Michel Basquiat in 1982. The artwork, which depicts a skull, is among the most expensive paintings ever. In May 2017, it sold for $110.5 million at Sotheby's, the highest price ever paid at auction for artwork by an American artist in a public sale. That record was surpassed by Shot Marilyns by Andy Warhol, which sold for $195 million in May 2022.[1]

History

Untitled was executed by Jean-Michel Basquiat in 1982, which is considered his most valuable year.[2] Untitled depicts a skull, composed of black brushstrokes with red, yellow and white rivulets against a blue background. It originally sold for $4,000 in 1982. It was owned by the Annina Nosei Gallery in New York, before being sold to Phoebe Chason, who sold it to Alexander F. Milliken in 1982. It hadn't been shown in public since it was sold at Christie's to Emily and Jerry Spiegel for $19,000 in 1984.[3] [4]

In May 2017, the painting was auctioned at Sotheby's to Japanese businessman and art collector Yusaku Maezawa for $110.5 million, which far exceeded the pre-sale estimate of $60 million.[5] [6] Basquiat, who was 21-years-old when he painted Untitled, is the youngest artist to eclipse the $100 million mark.[7] It is also the first work made after 1980 to sell for more than $100 million. It surpassed Andy Warhol's $105 million auction record for Silver Car Crash (Double Disaster) (1963), and became the sixth-most expensive work ever auctioned.[8] Basquiat's previous record was $57.3 million for Untitled (1982), a painting of a devil, also purchased by Maezawa.[9]

Exhibitions

Untitled was exhibited for the group show Fast at Alexander F. Milliken Inc. in New York, June–July 1982.[10] After Yusaku Maezawa purchased the painting, he loaned it to the Brooklyn Museum and the Seattle Art Museum in 2018.[11] [12] [13] Maezawa plans to open a contemporary art museum in his hometown of Chiba, Japan, which will house the painting with the rest of his art collection.[14] It was on display for the Jean-Michel Basquiat exhibition at the Brant Foundation in New York, March–May 2019.[15]

See also

References

  1. News: Pogrebin . Robin . 2022-05-10 . Warhol's 'Marilyn,' at $195 Million, Shatters Auction Record for an American Artist . en-US . The New York Times . 2022-05-10 . 0362-4331.
  2. Web site: Gotthardt. Alexxa. April 1, 2018. What Makes 1982 Basquiat's Most Valuable Year. 2020-09-26. Artsy. en.
  3. News: Pogrebin . Robin . Reyburn . Scott . 2017-05-17 . How Basquiat Became the $60 Million Man . en-US . The New York Times . 2022-05-10 . 0362-4331.
  4. Web site: Villa . Angelica . 2021-03-08 . The Most Expensive Jean-Michel Basquiat Works Ever Sold at Auction . 2022-05-10 . ARTnews.com . en-US.
  5. News: Pogrebin. Robin. Reyburn. Scott. May 18, 2017. A Basquiat Sells for 'Mind-Blowing' $110.5 Million at Auction. en-US. The New York Times. 2020-09-26. 0362-4331.
  6. Web site: At $110.5 Million, Basquiat Painting Becomes Priciest Work Ever Sold By A U.S. Artist. 2020-09-26. NPR.org. 19 May 2017 . en. Dwyer . Colin .
  7. Web site: Valentine. Victoria. May 25, 2017. Basquiat's Moment: Record-Shattering $110.5 Million Painting is Most Expensive Ever by an American Artist Sold at Auction. 2021-05-17. en-US.
  8. Web site: Mullen. Jethro. May 18, 2017. Basquiat tops Warhol after painting sells for $111 million. 2020-09-26. CNNMoney.
  9. Web site: Martinez. Alanna. May 11, 2016. $57M Basquiat Breaks Auction Record at Christie's. 2020-09-26. Observer. en-US.
  10. Web site: 2018-05-21. Alexander F. Milliken Inc, Jean-Michel Basquiat, David Wojnarowicz..., Fast, Group Exhibition Catalogue, June - July 1982. 2020-09-26. Gallery 98. en.
  11. Web site: Kinsella. Eileen. January 11, 2018. Yusaku Maezawa's Blockbuster $110.5 Million Basquiat Is Getting Its Own Brooklyn Museum Show. 2020-09-30. artnet News. en-US.
  12. Web site: Davis. Ben. February 8, 2018. How a One-Painting Basquiat Show Lets You Get Inside the Brilliant Young Artist's Head. 2020-09-30. artnet News. en-US.
  13. Web site: Basquiat—Untitled. 2020-09-30. Seattle Art Museum.
  14. Web site: September 14, 2017. The art world's new rock star. 2020-09-30. Christie's. en.
  15. News: Crow. Kelly. February 28, 2019. $110.5 Million Basquiat Lands in New York's East Village. en-US. Wall Street Journal. 2020-10-02. 0099-9660.

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