Flexible is a painting created by American artist Jean-Michel Basquiat in 1984. The artwork, which portrays a griot, sold for $45.3 million at Phillips in May 2018.[1]
Jean-Michel Basquiat rose to prominence as a graffiti artist in the late 1970s, operating under the pseudonym SAMO.[2] In the early 1980s, he began to direct his creative output towards painting and drawing. Basquiat often painted on objects he found in the streets such as discarded doors and furniture.[3] By 1984, he had achieved international stardom for his artwork. Flexible was painted on a slatted 8.5 ft tall wood support that had been deconstructed from the fence at his studio in Venice, California.[2] Basquiat later made several wood slat picture supports from material purchased at a SoHo lumber yard in New York.[2] The wood slat fencing material was used in more than 17 paintings made between 1984 and 1986, including Gold Griot (1984), M (1984), Grillo (1984), and Jim Crow (1986).[4]
Flexible depicts a griot—a storyteller, musician, and purveyor of oral history from West African culture—whose arms are joined together as a continuous band above the head.[5] It was offered for sale for the first time, publicly or privately, in 2018. The painting was consigned directly from the Basquiat's estate.[2] In May 2018, it sold for $45.3 million at Phillips' 20th Century & Contemporary Evening Sale, exceeding the pre-sale estimate of $20 million.[1][6] It is the first Basquiat painting made after 1983 to sell for more than $20 million.
Exhibitionsedit
Flexible has been exhibited at major art institutions worldwide, which include:
^ abArmstrong, Annie (May 18, 2018). "$45.3 M. Basquiat Is Top Lot in Robust $131.6 M. Phillips Sale of 20th-Century and Contemporary Art". ARTnews. Retrieved 2021-01-10.
^ abcd"Phillips to Offer Basquiat's "Flexible" for First Time at Auction". Art & Object. March 30, 2018. Retrieved 2021-01-10.
^"Jean-Michel Basquiat: Street As Studio". Guggenheim Museum Bilbao. Retrieved 2021-01-10.
^Westall, Mark (March 29, 2018). "Phillips to Offer Basquiat's Flexible, the Iconic Painting's First Time at Auction". FAD Magazine. Retrieved 2021-01-10.
^Sarah P., Hanson (May 4, 2018). "Basquiat's $20m work takes centre stage in Phillips sale". The Art Newspaper. Retrieved 2021-01-10.
April 11, 2024
flexible, basquiat, flexible, painting, created, american, artist, jean, michel, basquiat, 1984, artwork, which, portrays, griot, sold, million, phillips, 2018, flexibleartistjean, michel, basquiatyear1984mediumacrylic, oilstick, woodmovementneo, expressionism. Flexible is a painting created by American artist Jean Michel Basquiat in 1984 The artwork which portrays a griot sold for 45 3 million at Phillips in May 2018 1 FlexibleArtistJean Michel BasquiatYear1984MediumAcrylic and oilstick on woodMovementNeo expressionismDimensions259 1 cm 190 5 cm 102 0 in 75 0 in LocationPrivate collection Contents 1 History 2 Exhibitions 3 See also 4 ReferencesHistory editJean Michel Basquiat rose to prominence as a graffiti artist in the late 1970s operating under the pseudonym SAMO 2 In the early 1980s he began to direct his creative output towards painting and drawing Basquiat often painted on objects he found in the streets such as discarded doors and furniture 3 By 1984 he had achieved international stardom for his artwork Flexible was painted on a slatted 8 5 ft tall wood support that had been deconstructed from the fence at his studio in Venice California 2 Basquiat later made several wood slat picture supports from material purchased at a SoHo lumber yard in New York 2 The wood slat fencing material was used in more than 17 paintings made between 1984 and 1986 including Gold Griot 1984 M 1984 Grillo 1984 and Jim Crow 1986 4 Flexible depicts a griot a storyteller musician and purveyor of oral history from West African culture whose arms are joined together as a continuous band above the head 5 It was offered for sale for the first time publicly or privately in 2018 The painting was consigned directly from the Basquiat s estate 2 In May 2018 it sold for 45 3 million at Phillips 20th Century amp Contemporary Evening Sale exceeding the pre sale estimate of 20 million 1 6 It is the first Basquiat painting made after 1983 to sell for more than 20 million Exhibitions editFlexible has been exhibited at major art institutions worldwide which include Jean Michel Basquiat at Mary Boone Gallery in New York March 2 23 1985 4 Jean Michel Basquiat at Centre Culturel Francais in Abidjan Ivory Coast October 10 November 7 1986 4 Jean Michel Basquiat at Whitney Museum of American Art in New York October 1992 February 1993 4 Basquiat at the Brooklyn Museum in New York March 11 June 2005 Museum of Contemporary Art Los Angeles July October 2005 Museum of Fine Arts Houston November 2005 February 2006 4 Basquiat at Fondation Beyeler in Switzerland May September 2010 Musee d Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris October 2010 January 2011 4 See also editList of paintings by Jean Michel Basquiat 1984 in artReferences edit a b Armstrong Annie May 18 2018 45 3 M Basquiat Is Top Lot in Robust 131 6 M Phillips Sale of 20th Century and Contemporary Art ARTnews Retrieved 2021 01 10 a b c d Phillips to Offer Basquiat s Flexible for First Time at Auction Art amp Object March 30 2018 Retrieved 2021 01 10 Jean Michel Basquiat Street As Studio Guggenheim Museum Bilbao Retrieved 2021 01 10 a b c d e f Jean Michel Basquiat Flexible Phillips Retrieved 2021 01 10 Westall Mark March 29 2018 Phillips to Offer Basquiat s Flexible the Iconic Painting s First Time at Auction FAD Magazine Retrieved 2021 01 10 Sarah P Hanson May 4 2018 Basquiat s 20m work takes centre stage in Phillips sale The Art Newspaper Retrieved 2021 01 10 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Flexible Basquiat amp oldid 1216231468, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
