Jean-Michel Basquiat (1960-1988)
Crowns (Peso Neto)
The Coronation.
On Christmas Day, 1981, Jean-Michel Basquiat did not pray; he painted.
1981 was the point of ignition—the year the street tagger SAMO died and the art star Basquiat was born.
Crowns (Peso Neto) is a manifesto of sovereignty. Spanning nearly 2.5 meters, it asserts the Black artist’s right to royalty in a white-dominated art world. The "Crown" is not decorative; it is political. Working with frenetic energy using acrylic, oilstick, and collage, Basquiat layers text and fury to weigh the "Net Weight" (Peso Neto) of his own soul.
Why it matters: An asset of immense historical gravity. Exhibited at the legendary Documenta 7 in 1982 and originally presented by Annina Nosei. This is Basquiat at his absolute peak—raw, uncensored, and claiming his throne.
Details:
Acrylic, oilstick and paper collage on canvas.
193.6 x 239.4 cm (76 ¼ x 94 ¼ in).
Signed, titled and dated lower edge: DEC 25 81.
Market Context:
Auction: Sotheby’s, New York.
Event: The Now & Contemporary Evening Auction.
Estimate: $45,000,000