Warrior (Basquiat) Explained

Warrior
Image Upright:1.2
Artist:Jean-Michel Basquiat
Year:1982
Medium:Acrylic and oilstick on wood panel
Movement:Neo-expressionism
Height Imperial:72
Width Imperial:48
Museum:Private collection

Warrior is a painting created by American artist Jean-Michel Basquiat in 1982. It is interpreted as "a semi-autobiographical work championing his creative vision as a black artist."[1] In March 2021, the painting sold for $41.8 million at Christie's in Hong Kong, becoming the most expensive Western artwork sold at auction in Asia.[2]

History

Jean-Michel Basquiat painted Warrior in 1982, a milestone year in his career. He had his first individual American exhibition at the Annina Nosei Gallery in New York, and he became the youngest artist ever to take part in documenta in Kassel.[3] Basquiat later recalled that he "made the best paintings ever" in 1982, which is considered his most valuable year.[4]

Basquiat painted Warrior on a wooden panel in his studio in the basement of the Annina Nosei Gallery. The painting depicts a commanding gladiator brandishing a sword, representing the eponymous warrior, on a backdrop of yellow and blue patches. It is reminiscent of Renaissance depictions of court knights such as Young Knight in a Landscape (1510) by Vittore Carpaccio.

Warrior first appeared in an exhibition of his work at the Akira Ikeda Gallery in Tokyo in 1983. In the coming decades it traveled to exhibitions in Paris, Vienna, and Milan.[5] It sold at Sotheby's for $1.8 million in 2005 and $5.6 million in 2007. In 2012, German-American real estate developer and art collector Aby Rosen purchased the painting for $8.7 million at Sotheby's. In March 2021, Warrior sold for $41.7 million at a live-streamed Christie's auction in Hong Kong, which set a new auction record for the highest price paid for a Western artwork in Asia.[6] [7]

Exhibitions

Warrior has been exhibited at major art institutions worldwide, which include:

See also

References

  1. Web site: Knott. Kylie. 2021-03-24. US$41.8 million Basquiat painting sets new Asia auctions mark for Western art. 2021-03-24. South China Morning Post. en.
  2. Web site: Basquiat's Warrior becomes most expensive Western artwork ever sold in Asia at HK$323,600,000 / $41,857,351. 2021-03-24. Christie's. en.
  3. Web site: March 12, 2021. Basquiat's Warrior — the most valuable Western artwork ever offered in Asia. 2021-03-24. Christie's. en.
  4. Web site: Gotthardt. Alexxa. April 1, 2018. What Makes 1982 Basquiat's Most Valuable Year. 2021-03-24. Artsy. en.
  5. Web site: Villa. Angelica. Gleadell. Collin. 2021-03-23. Basquiat Painting Sells for $41.7 M. at Christie's in Hong Kong. 2021-03-24. ARTnews.com. en-US.
  6. Web site: Rea. Naomi. 2021-03-23. A Basquiat Painting of a Warrior Just Fetched $41.8 Million at Christie's Hong Kong, Setting a Record for Western Art in Asia. 2021-03-24. Artnet News. en-US.
  7. News: Kazakina. Katya. 2021-03-23. Basquiat Brings $41.9 Million, Even Amid Digital Gold Rush. en-US. The New York Times. 2021-03-24. 0362-4331.
  8. Web site: Jean-Michel Basquiat (1960-1988): Warrior. 2021-03-24. Christie's. en.

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