Untitled
Untitled dates from 1981, the year of Basquiat's first exhibitions in art galleries as well as his inclusion in the group show New York/New Wave at PS1, both of which heralded his transformation from the well-regarded graffiti artist SAMO (short for "same old shit") to the professional artist he came to be recognized as in the 1980s. Untitled adroitly combines elements of abstraction, figuration, and expressionism. It pulses with energy, exuberance, and dynamism, evoking the crowded, cacophonous streets of New York City. Typically, the work is dense with symbolism and coded iconography. At the top is a roughly-sketched in head, mask-like in appearance. On the head rests a mop of hair that vaguely resembles Andy Warhol's, who Basquiat knew of in 1981 but would not meet properly until 1982. Arrows appear throughout the painting, as does a curious shape that resembles both a laboratory beaker and a tomahawk.
Artwork Details
- Title: Untitled
- Artist: Jean-Michel Basquiat (American, Brooklyn, New York 1960–1988 New York)
- Date: 1981
- Medium: Acrylic, oil and oil stick on wood panel
- Dimensions: 72 × 48 in. (182.9 × 121.9 cm)
- Classification: Paintings
- Credit Line: Gift of Mireille and James Levy, 2021
- Object Number: 2021.2.1
- Curatorial Department: Modern and Contemporary Art
More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Jean-Michel Basquiat
1985
Jean-Michel Basquiat
1986
Jean-Michel Basquiat
1987
Returned to lender
Jean-Michel Basquiat
1982
Returned to lender
Jean-Michel Basquiat
1982
Research Resources
The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.
To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.
Feedback
We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.