What did Jean-Michel Basquiat's art mean?

Jean-Michel Basquiat Barcelona 1989: Rare vintage 1989 Jean-Michel Basquiat announcement card published on the occasion of Jean-Michel Basquiat: Dau al Set Galeria d'Art, Barcelona,...

This is a lifetime edition - hand signed and numbered by Jean-Michel Basquiat himself in Basquiat's lifetime. Many younger collectors don't appreciate the difference between the numerous posthumous estate authorized prints...

Jean-Michel Basquiat, 1985 Limited Edition Artist's Book with Offset Lithographs. Hand signed and numbered by Jean-Michel Basquiat Hand signed and numb...

Jean-Michel Basquiat (untitled), 'MAN MADE Sweatshirt', c. 1979: Basquiat produced this rare original hand-painted sweatshirt (among others, with only few known to have survived) for the purposes of selling these on his own and through the historic downtown fashion boutique, Patricia Field’s. Basquiat was captured wearing a similar example in the well publicized 1979 photo, 'Basquiat Dancing at The Mudd Club' by Nicholas Taylor of Gray. This double-sided work notably features Basquiat’s ‘MANMADE’ tag - Basquiat’s alias after he took to the streets to declare “SAMO is Dead”. The work is further highlighted by Basquiat’s ‘BAD’ motif - uniquely paralleling his consideration to naming his band, ‘Bad Fools’ prior to Gray. In trademark Basquiat style, we also find the vertically spaced ‘E’ on both sides of the piece, as well as dashed lines which would appear in many of the artist’s Anti-Product cards, early drawings and more. The work emanates directly from the collection of world renowned author Lucy Sante (formerly Luc Sante). As it is well publicized, Basquiat worked with Sante in 1979/80 on the downtown-art scene publication, ‘Stranded’ (New York, 1980). Medium: Acrylic on cotton sweatshirt (double-sided artwork). Executed circa 1979/1980. Dimensions: 16.5 x 22 inches (outstretched cuff to cuff: 50 inches & sleeve length: 18 inches). Condition: In good overall vintage condition. Bright well-preserved colors; some minor discoloration in several areas due to normal age related wear and use; scattered stains located on the hem, inner arm area(s) and cuffs; scattered minor pilling; loose thread on the reverse of hem. Basquiat's artwork throughout remains fully intact. Unique. One of a kind. Signed ‘MANMADE’ and numbered 5/100 on the reverse. Provenance: Gifted by Basquiat to Lucy Sante; obtained directly from the former. Sante's relationship to Basquiat is well documented in three publications (see below literature/references for more). Accompanied by a letter of provenance from Sante. Literature/References: -'Boom for Real: The Late Teenage Years of Jean-Michel Basquiat,' by Sarah Driver - this 2018 documentary features an in-depth section devoted to Basquiat's 'Man Made' clothing, featuring an interview with designer Patricia Field & artist Kenny Scharf. - 'Basquiat Before Basquiat' (MCA Denver; see Sante, p.40-43 ). - 'Stranded' issue four index (Spring 1980). Basquiat's identity is confirmed as 'Man-Made' midway on page. - 'Zeitgeist: The Art Scene of Teenage Basquiat' (Howl Arts 2018; essay: 'Stranded' by Lucy Sante). - 'An Intimate Look at Jean-Michel Basquiat's Early Days' by Lucy Sante (Village Voice 2/8/17). -'Man Made by Basquiat' (MinnieMuse) May 2019. -'Exploring Jean-Michel Basquiat's 1970's Clothing Collection, 'Man Made.'' Vice Magazine, May 2019. - ‘The Jean-Michel Basquiat Reader’ (Moore pg. 334) discusses Basquiat’s Man Made painted clothing. - 'Basquiat Dancing at The Mudd Club' photograph by Nicholas Taylor of Gray (Basquiat wears a similarly painted sweatshirt). Basquiat’s use of ’MAN MADE', see: - Glenn O'Brien "Graffiti '80;" High Times, June 1980 (p. 53-54); "Jean-Michel Basquiat who is known to many as SAMO, had changed his alias to Man Made". - Jean-Michel Basquiat: 1981, the Studio of the Street (Diego Cortez; 2007 p. 80). - The Last Time I Saw Basquiat (NYR Daily 9/3/16; essay by Lucy Sante). - Basquiat: Boom For Real (Barbican; Nairne, Buchhart & Johnson p.26). - Sotheby's S2 Catalog & Sale, "Man Made" (May 2013). Intertextual References: Basquiat's 'BAD' motif further appears in the following 1979 works: - "Stupid Games, Bad Ideas" (color xerox; see Basquiat: Boom For Real pg. 108). - Basquiat (untitled) "Test Pattern" (original drawing and xerox; see Basquiat: Boom For Real pg. 147). - Basquiat (untitled) "Gumby Is Bad" t-shirt (worn on camera by the artist at Canal Zone...

Jean-Michel Basquiat Downtown 81: A rare massive-sized theatrical poster published circa 2001 to promote the historical early 1980s Basquiat film: Downtown 81. A highly collectible ...

Jean-Michel Basquiat (untitled) Gray 1980: An exceptionally rare 1980 flyer created by Basquiat for his band, GRAY. Literature: Jean-Michel Basquiat 1981: The Studio of the Street', (Deitch, Cortez, Vassell): Seeing Loud: Basquiat and Music (Buchhart, Bessières, Desmarais). Further background as follows: Basquiat illustrated & printed this work much in the manner of his well-documented, Anti-Product Cards and several other xerox collages of this period: here, Basquiat draws over a found image, then employs his famous William Burroughs style 'cut-up' technique; completing the piece by abstractly scrawling the word, 'Gray' above. RARE & not be to be passed on. Medium: Color Xerox on paper. 1980. Dimensions: 8.5 x 11 inches. Condition: Good overall vintage condition; scattered soiling marks; minor signs of handling & aging; typewriting on the reverse; minor corner bending in one or more places. Unsigned from an edition of unknown; few known to have survived. Provenance: Obtained directly from a prominent Basquiat Gray...