“I was a really lousy artist as a kid. Too abstract expressionist… really messy. I’d never win painting contests. I remember losing to a guy who did a perfect Spider-Man.”
—Jean-Michel Basquiat
A striking example from Jean-Michel Basquiat’s celebrated oeuvre, A Panel of Experts (1982-87/2022) is a screenprint reproduction of the 1982 canvas of the same title, which presents a glimpse into Basquiat’s personal life and psyche. Characterised by the artist’s iconic black and white colour palette, the present lot showcases a specific event in Basquiat’s personal life. In the upper-left hand corner of the work, under the words “Venus” and “Madonna” the artist depicts a fistfight between two stick figures. The scene is the portrayal of an actual encounter between two women in a New York nightclub: Basquiat’s then girlfriend Suzanne Mallouk (nicknamed Venus) and his lover the singer Madonna, who at the time was not yet a celebrity. Basquiat’s decision to include the copyright symbol next to Madonna’s name suggest his awareness of her imminent fame. Basquiat told his art dealer Larry Gagosian that "she'll be the biggest pop star in the world." Additionally, by including text that reads “Saturday Morning Cartoon” and “Sugar Coated Corn Puffs,” the present lot alludes to Basquiat’s appropriation of childhood popular culture as a means to address sociopolitical issues concerning race, identity and mortality.
A Panel of Experts is part of the Superhero Portfolio – an edition comprising four screenprints of Basquiat’s original canvases featuring the artist’s personal heroes and idols. Taking inspiration from popular comic characters and symbols, Basquiat depicts Batman, Robin, and Flash alongside his iconic gestural marks and text. The series evokes a childlike spontaneity, while simultaneously showcasing a distinct awareness and command over composition. Combining bold colours and expressive brushwork, this portfolio exemplifies the unique style for which Basquiat is famed, while also symbolising the artist’s status as one of the most significant artists of his generation.
