Jean-Michel Basquiat, "Untitled" (1982)

"Untitled" (1982) by Jean-Michel Basquiat is a monumental neo-expressionist painting featuring a raw, mask-like skull rendered in vivid colors against an electric blue field. Created at the age of 21, this iconic work captures Basquiat’s fusion of street art, African heritage, and contemporary social commentary. Its energetic brushwork and layered symbolism reflect Basquiat's interest in urban experience, personal identity, and themes of life and mortality. Deeply autobiographical, the skull may function as a self-portrait, channeling Basquiat’s struggles with race, fame, and vulnerability.

The painting is widely regarded as Basquiat’s masterpiece and a touchstone of postwar art. When it sold for $110.5 million at Sotheby’s in 2017, it set a world record for a work by a Black artist and made Basquiat the youngest artist in history to cross the $100 million mark at auction. "Untitled" has come to represent not only the apex of Basquiat’s practice, but also the soaring global recognition of Black brilliance in contemporary art. Its innovative style and message continue to influence generations of artists and collectors.