| The Field Next to the Other Road | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Artist | Jean-Michel Basquiat |
| Year | 1981 |
| Medium | Acrylic, enamel spray paint, oilstick, metallic paint and ink on canvas |
| Movement | Neo-expressionism |
| Dimensions | 220.9 cm× 401.3 cm(87.0 in× 158.0 in) |
| Location | Private collection |
The Field Next to the Other Road is a 1981 painting created by American artist Jean-Michel Basquiat. It sold for $37.1 million at Christie's in May 2015. [1]
The Field Next to the Other Road was executed in 1981, an important year in Basquiat's career, in which he made the transition from a street artist to an established gallery artist in New York's downtown art scene. [2] Basquiat was invited to Modena, Italy by art dealer Emilio Mazzoli after he saw his work at New York's MoMA PS1 in February 1981. [3] In Modena, Basquiat commenced a series of paintings for his first solo exhibition at Galleria d'Arte Emilio Mazzoli in May 1981. [4] Among the paintings created was The Field Next to the Other Road, a depiction of skeletal man walking a cow.
In May 2015, the painting sold for $37.1 million at Christie's Post-War and Contemporary Art Evening Sale in New York. [1] In December 2015, the painting was still owned by the consignor, art dealer Tony Shafrazi. [5] In February 2016, Christie's sued art dealer Jose Mugrabi, and Mugrabi family firm, the Jombihis Corporation, for $32.1 million (plus interest and fees). [6] [7] Jose Mugrabi had bid on a client's behalf when he won the painting, but the client backed out of the sale and the Mugrabis missed two deadlines to pay the remaining balance. [8] Christie's and the Mugrabis reached an amicable settlement in March 2016—with Mugrabi taking ownership of the painting and agreeing to pay his bill in full. [8]
The Field Next to the Other Road has been exhibited at major art institutions worldwide, which include: