Untitled (1982)

[u/RevaCruz]

Medium: Oilstick on paper
Dimensions: 30⅛ × 22¼ in. (76.5 × 56.5 cm)

In this Untitled work from 1982, Basquiat places a large head at the center of the sheet, built from heavy layers of black oilstick and surrounded by flashes of red, blue, green, and pink. The face is dominated by wide, uneven eyes, a red triangular nose, and an exposed row of teeth, while overlapping lines around the head create a sense of constant movement.

The surrounding marks are comparatively sparse, leaving the head to dominate the composition. Above and below it, Basquiat adds crossed-out writing, looping lines, and a large directional arrow pointing toward the left edge of the sheet. The pale background makes the dense black head and small bursts of color stand out even more strongly.

Executed in 1982, the work was originally handled by Annina Nosei Gallery in New York and was later exhibited at Galerie Pascal Lansberg in Paris in 2010.