ARTIST: Jean Michel Basquiat (1960 - 1988)TITLE: SAM IIDATE: 1985MEDIUM: Acrylic and Ink on a Wig Mannequin Wearing Large Stereo HeadphonesSIZE: 12” High X 10” WideSIGNED: With JMB’s Signature CrownThis fabulous work by Jean Michel Basquiat originated in 1985 and was given as a personal gift to Mr. Jimmy Hart (The Mouth of the South) WWF wrestling manager the week of Wrestlemania 1 that took place March 31, 1985 at Madison Square Garden Arena in New York where Jean Michel Basquiat, Andy Warhol and Andy Kauffman all attended the event.The week prior to the event, Basquiat, Warhol and Kauffman were attending a dinner with Mr. Jimmy Hart when Basquiat presented this amazing work to him. Jean Michel was a big fan of the WWF and of Jimmy Hart. Jean Michel stated that the headphones were a representation of how he wanted to cover his ears every time Jimmy Hart yelled through his megaphone. The headphones were owned and were worn by Basquiat.Provenance:Given to Mr. Jimmy Hart, New York, March 1985, from the artist Jean Michel BasquiatAcquired by Mr. Perry Horner from Jimmy Hart, Miami Florida 2012,Purchased from Perry Horner by Mr. Steve Wientraub Tampa Florida, 2014Purchased from Wientraub by Mr. Harvey B. Yaris NY 2014

This is in excellent condition.
Basquiat used social commentary in his paintings as a springboard to deeper truths about the individual, as well as attacks on power structures and systems of racism, while his poetics were acutely political and direct in their criticism of colonialism and support for class struggle.