Untitled (Head)

Untitled (Head) is a 1982 drawing created by American artist Jean-Michel Basquiat in 1982. It sold for $15.2 million at Sotheby's in June 2020, becoming Basquiat's most expensive work on paper.[1]

Untitled (Head)
ArtistJean-Michel Basquiat
Year1982
MediumOilstick, ink and acrylic on paper
MovementNeo-expressionism
Dimensions75.6 cm × 55.9 cm (29.75 in × 22.0 in)
LocationPrivate collection

History

Executed in 1982, Untitled (Head) is an outburst of vivid color, bearing echoes to one of Basquiat's most well-known heads Untitled (1981). "Whereas Untitled (1981) presents the viewer with a mask-like visage caught somewhere between life and death, Untitled (Head) (1982) creates an effect that’s somewhat more supernatural because of its evocatively unnatural hues."[2] Reminiscent of an African mask, the drawing was created during a period when Basquiat was being recognized by the establishment for the first time after his "shift from street to studio."[3] Grégoire Billault, Head of Sotheby's Contemporary Art Department in New York, said in a statement, "Untitled (Head) encapsulates the very best of Basquiat’s brilliant career. There is a sense of urgency and immediacy in this painting that is truly exceptional—a prescient work that captures and defines 1980s New York, demonstrating the young artist’s profound psychological awareness."[2]

Heads and skulls are some of Basquiat's most sought after works.[4] Art historian Fred Hoffman analyzed the use of heads as a motif in Basquiat's oeuvre: "What drew Basquiat almost obsessively to the depiction of the human head was his fascination with the face as a passageway from exterior physical presence into the hidden realities of man’s psychological and mental realms…they not only peer out as if seeing, but also invite the viewer to penetrate within."[5]

In June 2020, the painting sold for $15.2 million at Sotheby's Contemporary Art Evening Auction, a new auction record for a Basquiat work on paper. It was also the Sotheby's highest price ever for a work sold to an online bidder.[6]

Exhibitions

The painting has been exhibited at the flowing art institutions:

See also

References
  1. Villa, Angelica (July 3, 2020). "Mitchell, Basquiat Top $41 M. Phillips Contemporary Evening Sale, Thirst for Young Artists Brings New Records". ARTnews. Archived from the original on 2021-01-27. Retrieved 2021-01-23.
  2. Holmes, Helen (June 17, 2020). "Jean-Michel Basquiat's 'Untitled (Head)' Expected to Sell for $12 Million". Observer. Archived from the original on 2020-12-18. Retrieved 2021-01-23.
  3. Gotthardt, Alexxa (April 1, 2018). "What Makes 1982 Basquiat's Most Valuable Year". Artsy. Archived from the original on 2020-05-25. Retrieved 2021-01-23.
  4. Lee, Shannon (July 9, 2020). "Why Basquiat's Heads Are His Most Sought-After Works". Artsy. Archived from the original on 2021-01-10. Retrieved 2021-01-22.
  5. "A Masterpiece 'Head' on Paper by Jean-Michel Basquiat To Highlight Sotheby's Contemporary Art Evening Auction In New York on 29 June". Sotheby's. June 15, 2020. Archived from the original on January 19, 2021.
  6. Tully, Kathryn (June 30, 2020). "With Sotheby's $363.2 Million Sale, Art Market Passes First Major Test Of Pandemic". Forbes. Archived from the original on 2021-06-18. Retrieved 2021-01-23.
  7. "Jean-Michel Basquiat | Untitled (Head)". Sotheby's. Archived from the original on 2021-03-03.
  8. "200 BPM: The Jean Michel Basquiat Head". Sotheby's. June 26, 2020. Archived from the original on July 26, 2021.
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