Zenith (1985 painting)

Last updated
Zenith
Basquiat-Warhol-Zenith-1985.jpg
Artist Jean-Michel Basquiat and Andy Warhol
Year1985
MediumAcrylic on canvas
Movement Neo-expressionism and pop art
Dimensions297 cm× 673 cm(117 in× 265 in)

Zenith is a 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. [1]

Contents

History

Andy Warhol and Jean-Michel Basquiat were formally introduced by art dealer Bruno Bischofberger in October 1982. [2] They became creative partners and their prolific friendship defined the 1980s New York art scene. [3] Artist Ronnie Cutrone, and assistant to Warhol, said: "It was like some crazy art-world marriage and they were the odd couple. The relationship was symbiotic. Jean-Michel thought he needed Andy’s fame and Andy thought he needed Jean-Michel’s new blood. Jean-Michel gave Andy a rebellious image." [2]

From 1984 to 1985, Warhol and Basquiat created a series of large paintings together. Their collaborations ended after their joint exhibition, Paintings, at the Tony Shafrazi Gallery drew poor reviews in September 1985. [4] [5] Their collaborative works merged their two styles. Warhol would start by painting a commercial image and then Basquiat would add his own flare. Describing the process, Basquiat said: "He would put something very concrete or recognizable, like a newspaper headline or a product logo, and I would sort of deface it, and then I would try to get him to work some more on it, and then I would work more on it." [6] Zenith is titled after electronics company Zenith, whose red logo is centered on the canvas. It sold for $11.4 million at the Phillips Contemporary Art Evening Sale in May 2014, becoming the most expensive painting from their collaborations sold at auction. [1] [7]

Exhibitions

Zenith has been exhibited at the following art 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>Basquiat</i> (film) 1996 American film by Julian Schnabel

Basquiat is a 1996 American biographical drama film directed, written and co-composed by Julian Schnabel in his feature directorial debut. The film is based on the life of American postmodernist/neo expressionist artist Jean-Michel Basquiat. It is the first film about an American painter written and directed by another artist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bruno Bischofberger</span> Swiss art dealer

Bruno Bischofberger is a Swiss art dealer and collector.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thomas Ammann</span>

Thomas E. Ammann was a leading Swiss art dealer in Impressionist and twentieth century art, and a collector of post-war and contemporary art.

Mary Boone is an American art dealer and collector. As the owner and director of the Mary Boone Gallery, she played an important role in the New York art market of the 1980s. Her first two artists, Julian Schnabel and David Salle, became internationally known, and in 1982 she had a cover story on New York magazine tagged "The New Queen of the Art Scene." Boone is credited with championing and fostering dozens of contemporary artists including Eric Fischl, Ai Wei Wei, Barbara Kruger, Laurie Simmons, Peter Halley, Ross Bleckner, and Jean-Michel Basquiat. Originally based in SoHo, Boone operated two galleries, one on Fifth Avenue, the other in Chelsea. Following her 2019 conviction and sentencing to 30 months in prison for tax evasion, she indicated the intention to close both galleries.

<i>Jean-Michel Basquiat: The Radiant Child</i> 2010 American documentary by Tamra Davis

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.

Adam Lindemann is a New York Based gallerist, art collector and writer who founded Venus Over Manhattan gallery in New York City in 2012. As an art collector and gallerist, Lindemann is known for setting multiple world records both at auction and privately, including career records for Jeff Koons, Takashi Murakami, Jean-Michel Basquiat and Jean Royère.

<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>Olympics</i> (1984 painting) Painting by Jean-Michel Basquiat and Andy Warhol

Olympics is a painting created by American artists Jean-Michel Basquiat and Andy Warhol in 1984. The artwork was a commemoration of the 1984 Summer Olympics. It sold for $10.5 million at Phillips's Contemporary Art Evening Sale in June 2012, which at the time was a record high for a Warhol-Basquiat collaboration. It is the second most expensive Warhol-Basquiat collaboration sold at auction after Zenith (1985).

<i>Dos Cabezas</i> 1982 painting by Jean-Michel Basquiat

Dos Cabezas is a painting created by American artist Jean-Michel Basquiat in 1982. The double portrait resulted from Basquiat's first formal meeting with his idol, American pop artist Andy Warhol.

Suzanne Mallouk is a Canadian-born painter, psychiatrist, and psychoanalyst based in New York City. She is best known for being amongst a core of East Village creatives in the 1980s and for her relationship with artist Jean-Michel Basquiat, both of which are chronicled by her friend Jennifer Clement in Widow Basquiat: A Memoir. In 2015, Vogue magazine listed Basquiat and Mallouk among "The 21 Most Stylish Art World Couples of All Time."

<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>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>Sabado por la Noche</i> 1984 painting by Jean-Michel Basquiat

Sabado por la Noche is a painting created by American artist Jean-Michel Basquiat in 1984. It sold for $10.7 million at Christie's in 2019.

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

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."

The Collaboration is an upcoming American biographical drama film directed by Kwame Kwei-Armah and written by Anthony McCarten, based on his stage play of the same name. The film stars Paul Bettany and Jeremy Pope, reprising the roles of Andy Warhol and Jean-Michel Basquiat which they performed in the original run of the stage play in February 2022 in London's West End, and for an extended run on Broadway into February 2023.

References

  1. 1 2 Boucher, Brian (May 24, 2016). "Elton John Sends Warhol/Basquiat to Sotheby's". artnet News. Retrieved 2021-01-13.
  2. 1 2 Faughnan, Ally (May 28, 2019). "The best, worst, and weirdest parts of Warhol and Basquiat's friendship". Dazed. Retrieved 2021-01-13.
  3. Vanderhoof, Erin (July 31, 2019). "Andy Warhol, Jean-Michel Basquiat, and the Friendship That Defined the Art World in 1980s New York City". Vanity Fair. Retrieved 2021-01-14.
  4. Raynor, Vivien (September 20, 1985). "Art: Basquiat, Warhol". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 2021-01-14.
  5. Wines, Michael (August 27, 1988). "Jean Michel Basquiat: Hazards Of Sudden Success and Fame". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 2021-01-14.
  6. Basquiat, Jean-Michel (2019). Basquiat-isms. Princeton University Press. p. 39. ISBN   978-0-691-19283-3.
  7. Kinsella, Eileen (May 15, 2014). "Rothko and Koons Shine At Phillips Sale". artnet News. Retrieved 2021-01-14.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Jean-Michel Basquiat and Andy Warhol - Zenith, 1985". Phillips. Retrieved 2021-01-14.