Anatomy
18 works
Jean-Michel Basquiat Per Capita, from Portfolio I For Sale
Jean-Michel Basquiat
Per Capita, from Portfolio I, 1983-2001
Screen print
40 x 40 in 101.6 x 101.6 cm
Edition
Edition of 85 plus 15 AP
About this work
Jean-Michel Basquiat’s Per Capita, from Portfolio I, is a forceful meditation on power, hierarchy, and collective value, articulated through the artist’s unmistakable fusion of text, symbol, and gesture. At the center of the composition sits a bold red field framed in rough strokes, emblazoned with Basquiat’s iconic crown rendered in electric blue—a symbol of authority, survival, and self-determination. Beneath it, the word “ASBESTOS” is scrawled in the same urgent blue, introducing a note of danger and toxicity that destabilizes the regal motif.The surrounding white ground functions as an active field rather than negative space, populated with fragments of language, mythological references, and schematic drawings. Words such as “PER CAPITA” hover above the crown, while allusions to gods, underworld figures, and obscure notations accumulate around the margins. These scattered elements suggest systems of measurement, belief, and control—how power is counted, distributed, and mythologized across societies.Basquiat’s use of contrast is deliberate. The saturated red and blue core reads as an emblem or warning sign, while the looser, sketch-like drawings at the edges recall marginalia, notes, and suppressed histories. The juxtaposition of the crown with “ASBESTOS” collapses ideas of wealth and prestige into contamination and risk, underscoring Basquiat’s skepticism toward structures that elevate some while quietly harming many.In its screen-printed form, Per Capita amplifies the graphic clarity of these symbols without dulling their urgency. The work stands as a sharp commentary on economics, power, and collective consequence—an image that asserts Basquiat’s enduring ability to condense complex social critique into a language that is at once immediate, poetic, and unsettling. For more information or to buy Jean-Michel Basquiat’s Per Capita, contact our New York and London galleries using the form below.
Price on Application
Auction History
Untitled (Ramus of Mandible) from Anatomy · Jean-Michel Basquiat · Christie's · 2026-02 · $50,800
Untitled (Right Humerus) From Anatomy · Jean-Michel Basquiat · Christie's · 2026-02 · $35,560
Posterior View, from Anatomy · Jean-Michel Basquiat · Phillips · 2025-10 · $42,570
Living Sperm · Jean-Michel Basquiat · Sotheby's · 2025-07 · $113,945
Sabado por la Noche (Saturday Night) · Jean-Michel Basquiat · Christie's · 2025-03 · $1,849,653
More from this series
More series by Jean-Michel Basquiat
About the Portfolio I Series
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.
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.