Cabeza

Medium: 21 color screen-print on Saunders 410 Hot Press Watercolor paper
Year: 1983/2004
Sheet: 54 1/2 x 39 1/2 inches (138.4 x 100.3 cm)
Edition: 85
Artist’s Proofs: 15 AP
Hors Commerce: 20 HC
Publisher: David DeSanctis Contemporary Art, Inc., Los Angeles
Printer: Brand X Editions

Signed in pencil on the verso by Gerard Basquiat, Administrator of the Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat, as well stamps of the Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat and DeSanctis Carr Fine Art.

 

Cabeza depicts a portrait of a single figure against a vibrant yellow-orange backdrop. One can observe a simultaneous depiction of the internal and external body, with a rib cage and an ambiguous organ drawn in white lines. A word of unknown meaning – Aopkhes – is written across the figure’s chest. A circle drawn onto the figure’s neck suggests an Adam’s apple. As in many of Basquiat’s portraits, the figure bears a startled or shocked facial expression.

 

JEAN-MICHEL BASQUIAT
Dos Cabezas, 1982
Acrylic and oilstick on canvas with wood supports
59.7 x 60.5 (151.8 x 153.7 cm)

In its title, Cabeza recalls the iconic Dos Cabezas, a painting by the artist that depicts Basquiat alongside his friend Andy Warhol. The piece can be seen as emblematic of the close working relationship and friendship which the two artists cultivated in the early 80s. It proved beneficial for Basquiat to be connected to such a highly-regarded figure in the New York art scene, yet the working friendship was not one-sided commercially, as Warhol also benefited from association with the up-and-coming neo-expressionist as his pop art prints and paintings everyday items began to lose favor with the art-buying audience.

 

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Auction Results

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Christie’s New-York: 23 October 2025
Estimated: USD 70,000 – 100,000
USD 95,250

AFTER JEAN-MICHEL BASQUIAT (1960-1988)
Cabeza, 2004
From Portfolio II
Screenprint in colors on Saunders paper
Numbered 56⁄85 (there were also fifteen artist’s proofs)
With Gerard Basquiat’s signature in pencil within the artist’s estate stamps and dated ‘10.19.04’ on the reverse Published by David DeSanctis Contemporary Art

SBI Art Auction: 8 March 2025
Estimated: JPY 6,000,000 – 12,000,000
JPY 28,750,000 / USD 194,580
AUCTION RECORD FOR CABEZA

JEAN-MICHEL BASQUIAT (After)
Cabeza, from Portfolio II, 2004
Screenprint
Numbered on the lower left
Signed by Gerard Basquiat and dated on a stamped Certificate of Authenticity on the reverse
AP aside from the edition of 85

Phillips London: 7 June 2024
Estimated: GBP 50,000 – 70,000
GBP 88,900 / USD 113,348

Christie’s New-York: 16 April 2024
Estimated: USD 50,000 – 70,000
USD 81,900

AFTER JEAN-MICHEL BASQUIAT (1960-1988)
Cabeza, from Portfolio II, 2004
Screenprint in colors on Saunders paper
Numbered 17⁄85 (there were also fifteen artist’s proofs)
With Gerard Basquiat’s signature in pencil, the artist’s estate stamps and dated ‘10.19.04’ on the reverse

Christie’s New-York: 14 March 2024
Estimated: USD 50,000 – 70,000
USD 69,300

AFTER JEAN-MICHEL BASQUIAT (1960-1988)
Cabeza, from Portfolio II, 2004
Screenprint in colors on Saunders paper
Numbered 24⁄85 (there were also fifteen artist’s proofs)
With Gerard Basquiat’s signature in pencil, the artist’s estate stamps and dated ‘10.19.04’ on the reverse

Christie’s New-York: 28 October 2023
Estimated: USD 60,000 – 80,000
USD 75,600

AFTER JEAN-MICHEL BASQUIAT (1960-1988)
Cabeza, from Portfolio II, 2004
Screenprint in colors on Saunders paper
Numbered 76⁄85 (there were also fifteen artist’s proofs)
With Gerard Basquiat’s signature in pencil, the artist’s estate stamps and dated ‘10.19.04’ on the reverse

Sotheby’s London: 26 September 2023
Estimated: GBP 50,000 – 70,000
GBP 82,550 / USD 100,810

AFTER JEAN-MICHEL BASQUIAT (1960 – 1988)
Cabeza, from Portfolio II, 2004
Screen-print in colors on Saunders Hot Press watercolor paper
Numbered in pencil 26/85 and with the stamped Certificate of Authenticity signed in pencil and dated verso by Gerard Basquiat, the executor of the Jean-Michel Basquiat Estate

Sotheby’s New-York: 19 April 2023
Estimated: USD 60,000 – 80,000
USD 107,950

AFTER JEAN-MICHEL BASQUIAT (1960 – 1988)
Cabeza, 2004
Screen-print in colors on Saunders Hot Press watercolor paper
Inscribed in pencil HC 13/20
Signed in pencil on the Estate stamp on the verso and dated by Gerard Basquiat
The administrator of the Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat
This impression is one of 20 hors commerce impressions aside from the numbered edition of 85

Larsen Art Auction: 22 October 2022
Estimated: USD 20,000 – 40,000
USD 95,000 (Hammer)
USD 114,000

AFTER JEAN-MICHEL BASQUIAT (1960 – 1988)
Cabeza, from Portfolio II, 1982/2005
Screenprint on Saunders 410 Hot Press watercolor paper
Edition 81 of 85
Estate stamp signed and dated by Gerard Basquiat, the administrator of the estate, verso
Published by David DeSanctis Contemporary Art, Inc., New York.
There were also 15 Artist’s Proofs

Sotheby’s London: 19 March 2020
Estimated: GBP 50,000 – 70,000
GBP 68,750 / USD 79,860

AFTER JEAN-MICHEL BASQUIAT
Cabeza from Portfolio I, 2004
Screenprint in colors
Numbered A.P. 8/15
An artist’s proof aside from the edition of 85
With the Estate stamp verso, signed in pencil, dated by Gerard Basquiat

Christie’s New-York: 22 October 2019
Estimated: USD 40,000 – 60,000
USD 81,250

AFTER JEAN-MICHEL BASQUIAT
Cabeza, 2004
Screenprint in colors
Numbered 54/85
With Gerard Basquiat’s signature in pencil, the artist’s estate stamps and dated ‘10.19.04’ on the reverse