Jean-Michel Basquiat – Original Mixed Media

ca. 1979/1980

This exceptionally rare work by Jean-Michel Basquiat is an original handmade art card, executed in mixed media using colored xerographic prints and black ink on cardboard.

The piece belongs to the early Anti-Product series, created around 1979–1980 at the very beginning of Basquiat’s career.

The work is signed and titled on the reverse in black ink: “Jean-Michel Basquiat ©” and “Anti-Base (product) ™”, accompanied by a drawing of his characteristic symbol (visible through the plexiglass back).

Basquiat produced these Anti-Product cards as small, affordable works which he sold on the streets of New York for $1 to $3. They were created using xerox reproductions of collages incorporating paint, ink, found materials, and photographic fragments, mounted on cardboard in postcard format. Due to their fragile nature, very few examples have survived, making them extremely rare and highly sought after by collectors.

The composition features a powerful, primitive figure constructed from energetic red lines, combined with paint splashes and centered around a photographic portrait. The fusion of hand-drawn elements and mechanical reproduction is characteristic of Basquiat’s early experimentation, merging graffiti aesthetics, collage, and found imagery.

Provenance: Christie’s New York, 1994.

The work is professionally framed and presented in a plexiglass showcase, mounted within a custom acid-free double passe-partout and housed in a handmade white wooden frame with Plexiglas® Optical HC (UV protection, scratch-resistant, minimal reflection). The artwork is mounted loosely within the showcase and remains visible through the plexiglass back.

Card size: approx. 21 × 15 cm
Framed size: approx. 54 × 44 cm

Jean-Michel Basquiat (1960–1988) emerged from the New York graffiti scene under the name SAMO and became one of the most influential artists of the 20th century. His work bridges street art and neo-expressionism, addressing themes such as identity, race, power, and culture.

Despite his short life—he passed away at the age of 27—Basquiat left behind an exceptionally influential body of work. He collaborated with major artists such as Andy Warhol and Keith Haring, further strengthening his position within the New York avant-garde. His works are held in leading museum collections, including the Museum of Modern Art, the Whitney Museum of American Art, and The Broad.

Authenticity and provenance guaranteed.
Delivered with a certificate of authenticity.
Worldwide shipping, tax-friendly to the USA and other countries.
Custom handmade framing available on request.