Jean-Michel Basquiat — Portfolio I For Sale

Portfolio I Series by Jean-Michel Basquiat

Portfolio I stands as one of Jean-Michel Basquiat's most significant posthumous print editions, created from 1983-2001 and representing a crucial bridge between the artist's raw creative vision and fine art printmaking. This seminal series captures Basquiat at the height of his powers, translating his iconic visual language—crowned heads, cryptic text, and skeletal figures—into screenprints that retain the urgent, confrontational energy of his original works. The portfolio includes five powerful compositions: two iterations of Untitled (Head), Per Capita, Ernok, and dual versions of Rinso, each demonstrating the artist's masterful synthesis of neo-expressionism, street art aesthetics, and social commentary.

The technical execution of Portfolio I showcases Basquiat's distinctive approach to mark-making and symbolic representation. These screenprints preserve the artist's characteristic gestural lines, fragmented anatomy, and integration of text as visual element—techniques that revolutionized contemporary art in the 1980s. Works like Ernok and Per Capita exemplify his commentary on race, power, and capitalism, while the Rinso and Untitled (Head) pieces demonstrate his exploration of identity, mortality, and the Black experience in America. The layered compositions, bold color palettes, and deliberate crude execution reflect Basquiat's rejection of traditional artistic refinement in favor of raw, unfiltered expression.

From a market perspective, Portfolio I occupies a significant position within Basquiat's print oeuvre, offering collectors access to his vision at a more accessible entry point than original paintings while maintaining substantial investment potential. As Basquiat's auction records continue their upward trajectory—with paintings regularly achieving nine-figure sums—authenticated prints from authorized estates and publishers have seen corresponding appreciation. The limited nature of these editions, combined with Basquiat's enduring cultural influence and museum representation worldwide, positions Portfolio I as both an important historical document and a sound acquisition for sophisticated collectors building comprehensive holdings in post-war and contemporary art.

Portfolio I available through Guy Hepner.