Anatomy
18 works
Jean-Michel Basquiat Flexible For Sale
Jean-Michel Basquiat
Flexible, 1984-2016
Screen print
60 1/4 x 45 5/8 in 153 x 115.9 cm
Edition
Edition of 85 plus 15 AP
About this work
Flexible is a powerful and immediately recognizable image within Jean-Michel Basquiat’s oeuvre, presenting a lone, elongated figure rendered with raw intensity against a pale, lined ground. The composition centers on a skeletal, mask-like head with exposed teeth and piercing eyes, outlined in urgent strokes of red, black, yellow, and green. The looping contour that frames the figure creates a sense of containment and tension, as if the body is both confined and stretched beyond natural limits. The figure’s exaggerated posture and elongated neck suggest vulnerability, endurance, and psychological strain. Basquiat’s characteristic visual language—anatomical markings, fractured outlines, and layered color—evokes both X-ray imagery and ritual masks, drawing connections between the body, identity, and cultural memory. The lined background recalls notebook paper or institutional record-keeping, reinforcing themes of classification, surveillance, and control. Despite the title, Flexible carries an undertone of discomfort. The body appears bent and compliant, yet the aggressive line work and confrontational gaze resist passivity. This tension reflects Basquiat’s ongoing examination of how Black bodies are viewed, shaped, and pressured within social and historical frameworks. The restrained palette, punctuated by sharp accents of color, heightens the work’s emotional immediacy while allowing the figure to dominate the surface. In its screen-printed form, Flexible preserves the urgency of Basquiat’s hand while translating the image into a monumental scale. The work stands as a stark meditation on resilience and constraint, encapsulating the artist’s ability to fuse personal expression with broader social critique. For more information on Jean Michel Basquiat's Flexible for sale, contact our New York and London galleries using the form below.
Price on Application
Auction History
Flexible · Jean-Michel Basquiat · Sotheby's · 2023-07 · $281,017
Flexible · Jean-Michel Basquiat · SBI Art Auction · 2026-03 · $188,509
Flexible · Jean-Michel Basquiat · Sotheby's · 2022-09 · $128,435
Flexible · Jean-Michel Basquiat · Sotheby's · 2021-06 · $97,502
Flexible · Jean-Michel Basquiat · Sotheby's · 2021-10 · $81,252
More from this series
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About the Estate Prints Series
Jean-Michel Basquiat Estate Prints
The Jean-Michel Basquiat Estate Prints represent an extraordinary opportunity for collectors to acquire museum-quality reproductions of the artist's most iconic works, produced under the strict authorization of the Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat. These limited edition prints capture the raw energy and cultural significance of Basquiat's original compositions, translating his revolutionary visual language through advanced printing techniques that honor his distinctive style. Each release in this series undergoes rigorous quality control to ensure faithful color reproduction, texture, and the visceral impact that defines Basquiat's oeuvre.
The works included in this collection—ranging from 50 Cent Piece (1982/83-2020) and Flexible (1984-2016) to more recent estate authorizations like Odours Of Punt (1983-2024)—span the most critical period of Basquiat's meteoric career. These pieces exemplify his groundbreaking fusion of neo-expressionism, street art aesthetics, and profound social commentary. Masterworks such as Hollywood Africans (1983-2015) and Boxer Rebellion (1982/83-2018) showcase his unflinching examination of Black identity, cultural appropriation, and historical narrative, while pieces like Phooey (1982-2021) demonstrate his playful yet subversive relationship with text and image. The original paintings from which these prints derive regularly command eight-figure sums at auction, making estate-authorized editions an accessible entry point into one of the most important artistic legacies of the 20th century.
From a market perspective, Basquiat Estate Prints occupy a unique position within the contemporary art market. With original Basquiat paintings increasingly held in permanent museum collections and private holdings, these authorized editions provide collectors with authenticated works that carry both artistic merit and investment potential. Each print is produced in strictly limited editions with proper documentation and provenance from the estate, ensuring legitimacy in an art market where Basquiat forgeries remain problematic. As the artist's cultural influence continues to expand—evidenced by museum retrospectives, record-breaking auction results, and his pervasive impact on contemporary culture—these estate prints represent a stable collectible asset with historical significance.
Guy Hepner specializes in procuring authenticated Jean-Michel Basquiat Estate Prints for discerning collectors worldwide.
About Jean-Michel Basquiat
Jean-Michel Basquiat prints for sale at Guy Hepner include works from the Estate editions: Portfolio I, Portfolio II, the Anatomy series, Daros Suite, Superhero Portfolio, and Figures Portfolio. Basquiat original art for sale and Basquiat paintings for sale through our New York gallery are authenticated with full Estate provenance and catalogue documentation.
Jean-Michel Basquiat (1960–1988) remains one of the most powerful and sought-after artists in the history of contemporary art. A self-taught Neo-Expressionist who rose from the streets of Brooklyn to the highest echelons of the international art world, Basquiat's work commands extraordinary prices at auction and continues to attract serious collectors worldwide.
Jean-Michel Basquiat Paintings For Sale
Basquiat paintings for sale represent some of the most coveted works on the secondary market. His large-scale canvases — raw, urgent, and densely layered with text, symbols, and anatomical imagery — sell for tens of millions of dollars at the world's leading auction houses. The benchmark for Basquiat original art was set in May 2017 when Untitled (1982), depicting a skull-like head in yellow, red, and black, sold for $110.5 million at Sotheby's New York, making it the sixth-highest price ever achieved for an American artist at that time.
At Guy Hepner, Basquiat art for sale includes a curated selection of works on paper, rare prints, and portfolios from The Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat.
Basquiat Prints For Sale
Basquiat prints represent a more accessible entry point for collectors who want to buy Basquiat without competing at major auction. His limited-edition screenprints and lithographs — produced in collaboration with publishers during his lifetime and authorised posthumously by The Estate — retain strong value and are actively traded on the secondary market.
Among the most collected Basquiat print series available at Guy Hepner:
- Daros Suite — a landmark body of works on paper that documented Basquiat's mature Neo-Expressionist language
- Anatomy series — visceral explorations of the Black body, medicine, and power
- Portfolio I & II — seminal print portfolios featuring signature motifs including crowns, SAMO© tags, and anatomical diagrams
- Superhero Portfolio — bold, iconic images that recast Black figures as mythological heroes
- Figures Portfolio — expressive figure studies that trace Basquiat's gestural line from street art to fine art
- 50 Cent Piece — a graphic, politically charged print emblematic of Basquiat's engagement with race, value, and American currency
Basquiat: What to Collect
For new collectors approaching Basquiat art for sale, prints and works on paper offer the strongest combination of accessibility and long-term value. Auction data shows consistent demand across all price tiers, with rare portfolios and artist-proof editions commanding significant premiums over standard editions.
Collectors who buy Basquiat should prioritise:
- Provenance — documented chain of ownership back to The Estate or original publisher
- Edition size — smaller editions and unique works on paper carry greater scarcity value
- Condition — works in fresh condition with original framing or storage documentation
- Series significance — iconic motifs (crowns, skulls, SAMO, anatomical text) consistently outperform peripheral works
Basquiat original art in any medium is a long-term store of cultural and financial value. His place in the canon of twentieth-century art is unassailable, and institutional demand for major works continues to grow.
Basquiat Crown Symbol
The crown is Jean-Michel Basquiat's most enduring symbol — appearing in over 100 of his paintings and prints as a mark of royalty, genius, and cultural reclamation. Basquiat crowns appear across his most celebrated works: the Three-Pointed Crown motif from Untitled (Crown), Charles the First, Hollywood Africans, and the Daros Suite. When collectors search for Basquiat crown prints for sale, these estate-stamped editions — particularly the Portfolio I and II series — are the closest available equivalents to his painted crown imagery.
Basquiat Authentication
All Basquiat art for sale at Guy Hepner has been reviewed for provenance and authenticity. The primary authentication body for Basquiat's estate is The Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat, which manages the artist's legacy and provides authentication services for works of sufficient documentation.
Collectors seeking to buy Basquiat prints or works on paper should always request a full provenance record, certificate of authenticity, and condition report. Guy Hepner provides all documentation with every sale and can assist collectors in navigating The Estate's authentication process for significant acquisitions.