Untitled (Tar Tar Tar, Lead Lead Lead)

Untitled
Year1981
MediumAcrylic, oilstick and metallic spray enamel on canvas
MovementNeo-Expressionism
Dimensions172.7 cm × 261.6 cm (68.0 in × 103.0 in)
LocationPrivate collection

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.[1]

History

Executed in 1981, Untitled depicts a regal warrior surrounded by texts and graffiti imagery that marks his "transcendence from the leading figure on the underground art scene to the established world of international art stardom."[2] The year it was created, Basquiat had his first solo exhibition at Galleria d'Arte Emilio Mazzoli and Annina Nosei became his first art dealer.[3][4] Describing his aesthetic, she said his paintings "had a quality you don't find on the walls of the street, a quality of poetry and a universal message of the sign. It was a bit immature, but very beautiful."[5] Nosei provided Basquiat with studio space in the basement of her gallery, along with paint and canvases as he worked towards his first American solo show.[3] Art collector Anita Reiner, saw the painting while Basquiat was working on it and purchased it on the spot.[6] Reiner died in 2013, and the painting remained in the Reiner Family Collection until her heirs put it up for auction in 2014.[7][8] It sold for $34.8 million at Christie's Post-War and Contemporary Art Evening Sale in May 2014.[1]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Capuchine, Milliot (May 14, 2014). "Post-Sale Release: Christie's Post-War and Contemporary Art Evening Sales". Christie's. Archived from the original on 2021-02-27. Retrieved 2021-01-16.
  2. ^ "Basquiat, Bacon top auction list". The Spokesman. May 16, 2014. Archived from the original on 2023-07-09. Retrieved 2021-01-16.
  3. ^ a b "'IT'S CULTURE OR IT'S NOT CULTURE': An Interview with Annina Nosei". Artsy. March 4, 2014. Archived from the original on 2021-02-27. Retrieved 2021-01-16.
  4. ^ Maneker, Marion (June 8, 2018). "Sotheby's Brings Basquiat Held in Italy for 35 Years to London". Art Market Monitor. Archived from the original on 2021-01-15. Retrieved 2021-01-16.
  5. ^ Metcalf, Story by Stephen. "The Enigma of the Man Behind the $110 Million Painting". The Atlantic. ISSN 1072-7825. Archived from the original on 2021-02-12. Retrieved 2021-01-16.
  6. ^ Maneker, Marion (April 10, 2014). "Basquiat from the Basement at Annina Nosei on Block for $20m at Christie's". Art Market Monitor. Archived from the original on 2021-03-04. Retrieved 2021-01-16.
  7. ^ "A Tribute to Anita Reiner". The Phillips Collection. Archived from the original on 2023-07-09. Retrieved 2021-01-16.
  8. ^ Crow, Kelly (2014-04-10). "Warhol and Basquiat at New York Auctions in May". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Archived from the original on 2023-07-09. Retrieved 2021-01-16.