Jean-Michel Basquiat — In Color For Sale

In Color

In Color is a unique 1986 mixed-media work on paper combining oil, acrylic, oil stick, and collaged elements, dating from the final two years of Basquiat's life — a period marked by increasing critical recognition alongside the personal struggles that would culminate in his death in 1988. The work reflects the dense, layered technique Basquiat developed across his mature practice, building surfaces through accumulation and overpainting rather than a single decisive gesture.

By 1986, Basquiat's collaborative period with Andy Warhol had recently ended, and his own market and critical standing were shifting under the pressure of extraordinary early success. Works on paper from this period offer a more intimate, exploratory counterpoint to the large-scale canvases that define his public reputation, frequently revealing the working process — layering, revision, juxtaposition of media — underpinning his more finished paintings. Late-period works on paper like this one are increasingly sought by collectors who already own editioned prints and are looking to acquire a unique, one-of-a-kind example of Basquiat's studio practice.

As a unique work, In Color represents a direct, unrepeated example of Basquiat's studio practice from this pivotal late period, unmediated by any editioning process — offering collectors and institutions an authenticated opportunity to acquire an irreplaceable piece from the final chapter of his career.

Guy Hepner represents this unique Basquiat work on paper for sale, with full supporting documentation. Collectors interested in acquiring this piece, or discussing comparable late-period works, are welcome to contact our New York gallery.