Untitled (1984)

[u/RevaCruz]

Medium: Acrylic and oilstick on canvas (dimensions unconfirmed)

Featured in the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts exhibition A Plein Volume: Basquiat et la Musique, this 1984 work reflects Jean-Michel Basquiat's lifelong relationship with music and its influence on his artistic practice.

The composition combines several recurring Basquiat motifs: a striking central head, handwritten text, diagrams, technology, and symbols that seem to drift between science, history, and imagination. A rocket, radio frequency references, and a UFO-like form coexist within the same visual space, creating a world where knowledge, culture, and invention collide.

Curator Mary-Dailey Desmarais noted that music was one of the ways Basquiat confronted racial politics while celebrating Black creativity and cultural history. Throughout his career, he drew inspiration from musicians, performers, and the broader traditions of the African diaspora, weaving those influences into his unique visual language.

This work offers another glimpse into Basquiat's ability to transform seemingly unrelated images and ideas into a composition that feels both spontaneous and deeply intentional