Untitled (One Eyed Man or Xerox Face)

Last updated
Untitled (One Eyed Man or Xerox Face)
Jean-Michel-Basquiat-Untitled-One-Eyed-man-or-Xerox-Face-1982.jpg
Artist Jean-Michel Basquiat
Year1982
MediumAcrylic, spray paint, oilstick and Xerox collage on panel
Movement Neo-expressionism
Dimensions182.9 cm× 121.9 cm(72 in× 48 in)
LocationPrivate collection

Untitled (One Eyed Man or Xerox Face) is a 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. [1]

Contents

History

1982 was a watershed year for Jean-Michel Basquiat. At twenty-one years old, he completed his transition from a graffiti artist to a star of the New York art scene. [2] Basquiat had solo exhibitions in New York, Los Angeles, Rome, Zurich, and Rotterdam. He also received an invitation to documenta 7 , where he became the youngest artist to ever participate. [3]

Untitled (One Eyed Man or Xerox Face), from 1982, achieved the highest price for a Xerox work at auction when it sold for $14.5 million at Sotheby's London in March 2017. [4] It has been off the auction block since 1987, when it sold for $23,100 at Sotheby's New York. [5] Two months after Basquiat's Warrior sold for $41.8 million, becoming the most expensive Western artwork sold at auction in Asia, Untitled (One Eyed Man or Xerox Face) sold for $30.2 million at Christie's Hong Kong. [6] [1]

Analysis

Untitled (One Eyed Man or Xerox Face) features a cyclops-like figure in crimson bearing a grin set against a multicolored background. The raised arms echoes the pose of the triumphant boxer. "The hero figures in Basquiat’s paintings refer to the stars of sporting, musical and artistic worlds who, thanks to their extraordinary talents, transcended their social status to become the nation’s icons," said Alex Branczik, Head of Contemporary Art for Sotheby's Europe. [5] "Painted with their arms held aloft and wearing a crown of thorns they also reflect Basquiat’s own dramatic ascent from street artist to gallery sensation, and to his present status as one of the most valuable and talked about artists in the world." [5]

At the center of the painting is the "Xerox face" of the title: Basquiat applied a photocopied sheet of his own drawing to create the figure's face. Basquiat first experimented with Xerox in 1979, when he and his friend Jennifer Stein created a small series of mixed media collages which they photocopied onto postcards that they then sold on the street. [4] To the lower right, Basquiat depicts his famous crown motif.

Exhibitions

The painting has been exhibited at the following institutions:

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jean-Michel Basquiat</span> American artist (1960–1988)

Jean-Michel Basquiat was an American artist who rose to success during the 1980s as part of the Neo-expressionism movement.

<i>Dustheads</i> 1982 painting by Jean-Michel Basquiat

Dustheads is a 1982 painting created by American artist Jean-Michel Basquiat in 1982. In May 2013, it sold for $48.8 million at Christie's, which at the time was a record high for a Basquiat painting sold at auction.

<i>Untitled</i> (1982 Basquiat skull painting) Painting by Jean-Michel Basquiat

Untitled is a 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.

<i>La Hara</i> 1981 painting by Jean-Michel Basquiat

La Hara is a painting created by American artist Jean-Michel Basquiat in 1981. The artwork, which depicts a skeletal police officer, sold for $35 million at Christie's in May 2017.

<i>Untitled</i> (1982 Basquiat devil painting) 1982 painting by Jean-Michel Basquiat

Untitled is a 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.

<i>Crown Hotel (Mona Lisa Black Background)</i> 1982 painting by Jean-Michel Basquiat

Crown Hotel (Mona Lisa Black Background) is a 1982 painting created by American artist Jean-Michel Basquiat in 1982. The artwork cites Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa and Édouard Manet's Olympia, two canonical works of western art. In June 2013, it sold for $7.4 million at Sotheby's.

<i>Untitled (Fishing)</i> 1981 painting by Jean-Michel Basquiat

Untitled is a 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.

<i>Flesh and Spirit</i> (painting) Painting by Jean-Michel Basquiat

Flesh and Spirit is a painting created by American artist Jean-Michel Basquiat c. 1982–83. The multi-panel painting, which is one of the largest ever made by Basquiat, sold for $30.7 million at Sotheby's in May 2018.

<i>Untitled (Pollo Frito)</i> 1982 painting by Jean-Michel Basquiat

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.

<i>Taxi, 45th/Broadway</i> Painting by Jean-Michel Basquiat and Andy Warhol

Taxi, 45th/Broadway is a painting created by American artists Jean-Michel Basquiat and Andy Warhol circa 1984–85. The artwork sold at Sotheby's for $9.4 million in November 2018.

<i>Untitled (Tar Tar Tar, Lead Lead Lead)</i> 1981 painting by Jean-Michel Basquiat

Untitled_(Tar_Tar_Tar,_Lead_Lead_Lead) is a 1981 painting created by American artist Jean-Michel Basquiat in 1981. It sold for $34.8 million at Christie's in May 2014.

<i>Hannibal</i> (Basquiat) 1982 painting by Jean-Michel Basquiat

Hannibal is a painting created by American artist Jean-Michel Basquiat in 1982. The artwork, which features his signature skull and crown motifs, was sold at Sotheby's for $13.1 million in October 2016.

<i>Untitled (Head)</i> 1982 painting by Jean-Michel Basquiat

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.

<i>Warrior</i> (Basquiat) 1982 painting by Jean-Michel Basquiat

Warrior is a 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.

<i>In This Case</i> 1983 painting by Jean-Michel Basquiat

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.

<i>Versus Medici</i> 1982 painting by Jean-Michel Basquiat

Versus Medici is a 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.

<i>Donut Revenge</i> 1982 painting by Jean-Michel Basquiat

Donut Revenge is a painting created by American artist Jean-Michel Basquiat in 1982. The artwork, which features a radiant rotund figure, sold for $20.9 million at Christie's in December 2021.

<i>The Guilt of Gold Teeth</i> 1982 painting by Jean-Michel Basquiat

The Guilt of Gold Teeth is a painting created by American artist Jean-Michel Basquiat in 1982. The painting, which depicts Baron Samedi, sold for $40 million at Christie's in November 2021.

References

  1. 1 2 Villa, Angelica (May 25, 2021). "Basquiat Continues Market Reign at Christie's $204 M. Hong Kong Evening Sale". ARTnews.com. Retrieved 2021-06-09.
  2. Gotthardt, Alexxa (2018-04-01). "What Makes 1982 Basquiat's Most Valuable Year". Artsy. Retrieved 2021-06-04.
  3. "21 Facts About Jean-Michel Basquiat". Sotheby's. June 21, 2019.
  4. 1 2 Kinsella, Eileen (March 12, 2019). "Basquiat Loved Photocopies So Much He Bought His Own Xerox Machine. Now the Artworks He Made With It Are Worth Millions". Artnet News. Retrieved 2021-06-04.
  5. 1 2 3 Boucher, Brian (February 21, 2017). "Sotheby's London to Offer $22 Million Basquiat Canvas". Artnet News. Retrieved 2021-06-09.
  6. "Basquiat's Warrior becomes most expensive Western artwork ever sold in Asia at HK$323,600,000 / $41,857,351". Christie's. Retrieved 2021-06-09.
  7. 1 2 "Jean-Michel Basquiat (1960-1988) - Untitled (One Eyed Man or Xerox Face)". Christie's. Retrieved 2021-06-09.