Image Dimensions: 36 x 34 in (91.5 x 86.5 cm)

Signed (verso)

This lot is accompanied by a consignor-provided COA or related documentation, offered as received.

This 1982 acrylic on canvas stands as a quintessential example of Jean-Michel Basquiat's raw energy and unfiltered emotional power. Painted during the height of his creative prime, the work centers on a visceral skull-like head rendered in electrifying strokes of orange, red, violet, cobalt blue, and jet black. Its distorted, mask-like expression-with bulging circular eyes, snarling teeth, and stitched cranial contours-evokes both West African tribal imagery and the urban graffiti motifs that defined Basquiat's visual language. The surrounding background bursts with frenzied marks, layered drips, and coded symbols, including a grid of X's and O's in the upper left-a nod to the artist's cryptic visual vocabulary.

Created in 1982, the same year Basquiat participated in Documenta 7 and reached the apex of his early fame, this painting reflects his fusion of anatomical studies, street art, and African diasporic identity. The high-key palette, energetic composition, and expressive brushwork reflect the urgency and improvisation that mark his greatest works. Each color seems to vibrate with psychological tension, layered with cultural allusions and personal mythology.

This work has been authenticated by the Authentication Committee of the Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat, as confirmed in the official Certificate of Authenticity dated July 3, 2010. The authentication is signed by Gerard Basquiat, serving as Chairman of the Committee at the time. Paintings from 1982-widely regarded as Basquiat's golden year-are exceptionally prized among collectors and institutions. Works of comparable scale and subject matter have been collected by the Whitney Museum, the Broad, and major private holdings including the Mugrabi Collection. Auction records for 1982 skull-themed paintings regularly surpass $20 million, with market demand continuing to rise.

The painting's dimensions and format offer strong spatial adaptability, ideal for contemporary interiors, gallery walls, or institutional settings. Its bold palette and emotive force ensure that it dominates any space, commanding attention with its unrelenting intensity.

In sum, this authenticated 1982 masterpiece captures the raw, undiluted force of Jean-Michel Basquiat at his peak. It is an electrifying synthesis of intellect, trauma, identity, and aesthetic rebellion-solidifying its place as a museum-caliber work of profound historical and cultural significance.

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