| Cadillac Moon | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Artist | Jean-Michel Basquiat |
| Year | 1981 |
| Medium | Acrylic and oilstick on canvas |
| Movement | Neo-expressionism |
| Dimensions | 162 cm× 172 cm(63 3/4 in× 67 3/4 in) |
Cadillac Moon is a 1981 painting created by American artist Jean-Michel Basquiat in 1981. It is notable for being the first purchased Basquiat painting; bought by singer Debbie Harry for $200. [1]
The urban landscape was a recurring theme in Basquiat's work. Born in Brooklyn, New York, Basquiat began writing graffiti under the pseudonym SAMO in 1978. [2] In 1979, he formed the band Gray with Michael Holman. [3] In June 1980, Basquiat participated in The Times Square Show and his career as an artist began to take off. In late 1980, Basquiat began filming New York Beat (later renamed Downtown 81 ) directed by Edo Bertoglio and written and produced by Glenn O'Brien. His character paralleled his own life, a painter and musician trying to start a career. The film production crew bought Basquiat canvas and paint to make paintings for the film. The paintings that appear in the movie belonging to his character are by Basquiat himself, and are among his first canvases. [4]
After filming ended in 1981, Basquiat's co-star Debbie Harry of Blondie purchased his first painting Cadillac Moon for $200. [1] Basquiat also appeared in Blondie's music video for "Rapture." [5] Cadillac Moon "staples of Basquiat’s mature work, covered in frenetic, childlike drawings and repetitive, almost prayer-like words and phrases." [6] The painting depicts a stack of television sets on the right of the canvas with a single face on each screen, two cars—one Cadillac in the upper left corner. The letter A is repeated across the right of the canvas. On the bottom, Basquiat crossed out his SAMO© signature, then alluded to African-American baseball player Hank Aaron and the signed JEAN MICHEL BASQUIAT 1981. During this period, he made the transition from street artist to a gallery artist. His first one-person exhibition, held in Modena, Italy (May 23 – June 20, 1981), was named SAMO. [7]
Cadillac Moon was part of Basquiat's first European retrospective, Basquiat, in celebration of the 50th anniversary of his birth in 2010. [8] The exhibit originated at the Fondation Beyeler in Basel, Switzerland and traveled to Paris afterward. While on display at the Musée d'Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris in November 2010, the painting attracted media attention when it was realized that it had been vandalized. [9] Photographs revealed that slight marks made with a felt-tip pen were present while the work was on display in Basel. [10]
Downtown 81 is a 2000 American film that was shot in 1980-1981. The film was directed by Edo Bertoglio and written and produced by Glenn O'Brien and Patrick Montgomery, with post-production in 1999-2000 by Glenn O'Brien and Maripol. It is a rare real-life snapshot of an ultra-hip subculture of post-punk era Manhattan. Starring renowned artist Jean-Michel Basquiat and featuring such East Village artists as James Chance, Amos Poe, Walter Steding, Tav Falco and Elliott Murphy, the film is a bizarre elliptical urban fairy tale. In 1999, Michael Zilkha, founder of ZE Records, became the film's executive producer.
Maripol is an artist, film producer, fashion designer and stylist. She has had an influence on the looks of influential artists such as Madonna and Grace Jones. As part of the 1980s New York downtown scene, she captured the likes of Jean-Michel Basquiat, Keith Haring, Andy Warhol, and Debbie Harry with her Polaroid camera. Maripol also produced films, most notably Downtown 81.
Michael Thomas Holman is a New York-based artist, writer, filmmaker and musician. He is also an early 1980s downtown scene subculturalist and creator of the Hip Hop music program Graffiti Rock. Holman is a founding member, along with Jean-Michel Basquiat, of the experimental band Gray.
SAMO is a graffiti tag originally used on the streets of New York City from 1978 to 1980. The tag, written with a copyright symbol as "SAMO©", and pronounced Same-Oh, is primarily associated with the artist Jean-Michel Basquiat, but was originally developed as a collaboration between Basquiat and Al Diaz.
Jean-Michel Basquiat: The Radiant Child is a 2010 documentary film directed by Tamra Davis. It crosscuts excerpts from Davis' on-camera interview with the artist Jean-Michel Basquiat and anecdotes from his friends and associates. The film was shown at the Sundance Film Festival in 2010.
Untitled is a 1982 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.
Untitled is a 1982 painting created by American artist Jean-Michel Basquiat in 1982. The artwork was sold at Christie's for $57.3 million in May 2016. At the time, that was the record for Basquiat's most expensive painting. In 2022, it was sold for $85 million at Phillips, becoming Basquiat's third highest auction sale and fourth most expensive painting.
Undiscovered Genius of the Mississippi Delta is a 1983 painting created by American artist Jean-Michel Basquiat in 1983. Spanning over 15 feet, the artwork is an assessment of select African American history. The painting sold for $23.7 million at Sotheby's contemporary art evening auction in May 2014.
Untitled is a 1981 painting created by American artist Jean-Michel Basquiat in 1981. The artwork, which depicts a fisherman displaying his catch hanging at the end of a line, sold for $26.4 million at Christie's in November 2012.
Flexible is a 1984 painting created by American artist Jean-Michel Basquiat in 1984. The artwork, which portrays a griot, sold for $45.3 million at Phillips in May 2018.
Untitled (Pollo Frito) is a painting created by American artist Jean-Michel Basquiat in 1982. The artwork was sold at Sotheby's for $25.7 million in November 2018.
Zenith is a 1985 painting created by American artists Jean-Michel Basquiat and Andy Warhol in 1985. It sold for $11.4 million at Phillips in May 2014, the highest price paid at auction for a Warhol-Basquiat collaboration.
The Field Next to the Other Road is a 1981 painting created by American artist Jean-Michel Basquiat in 1981. It sold for $37.1 million at Christie's in May 2015.
Red Skull is a 1982 painting created by American artist Jean-Michel Basquiat in 1982. It was sold for $21.6 million at Christie's in October 2017.
Warrior is a 1982 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." 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.
In This Case is a 1983 painting created by American artist Jean-Michel Basquiat in 1983. The artwork, which depicts a skull, is among the most expensive paintings ever purchased. In May 2021, it sold for $93.1 million at Christie's New York, the second highest auction record by Basquiat.
Versus Medici is a 1982 painting created by American artist Jean-Michel Basquiat in 1982. The artwork, which references the Medici family, sold for $50.8 million at Sotheby's in May 2021.
Untitled (One Eyed Man or Xerox Face) is a 1982 painting created by American artist Jean-Michel Basquiat in 1982. In May 2021, it sold for $30.2 million at Christie's in Hong Kong.
Jean-Michel Basquiat is a painting created by American artist Andy Warhol in 1982. Warhol made multiple silkscreen portraits of artist Jean-Michel Basquiat using his "piss paintings."
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