Zenith
ArtistJean-Michel Basquiat and Andy Warhol
Year1985
MediumAcrylic on canvas
MovementNeo-expressionism and pop art
Dimensions297 cm × 673 cm (117 in × 265 in)

Zenith is a painting created by American artists Jean-Michel Basquiat and Andy Warhol in 1985. It sold for $11.4 million at Phillips in May 2014, the highest price paid at auction for a Warhol-Basquiat collaboration.[1]

History

Andy Warhol and Jean-Michel Basquiat were formally introduced by art dealer Bruno Bischofberger in October 1982.[2] They became creative partners and their prolific friendship defined the 1980s New York art scene.[3] Artist Ronnie Cutrone, and assistant to Warhol, said: "It was like some crazy art-world marriage and they were the odd couple. The relationship was symbiotic. Jean-Michel thought he needed Andy’s fame and Andy thought he needed Jean-Michel’s new blood. Jean-Michel gave Andy a rebellious image."[2]

From 1984 to 1985, Warhol and Basquiat created a series of large paintings together. Their collaborations ended after their joint exhibition, Paintings, at the Tony Shafrazi Gallery drew poor reviews in September 1985.[4][5] Their collaborative works merged their two styles. Warhol would start by painting a commercial image and then Basquiat would add his own flare. Describing the process, Basquiat said: "He would put something very concrete or recognizable, like a newspaper headline or a product logo, and I would sort of deface it, and then I would try to get him to work some more on it, and then I would work more on it."[6] Zenith is titled after electronics company Zenith, whose red logo is centered on the canvas. It sold for $11.4 million at the Phillips Contemporary Art Evening Sale in May 2014, becoming the most expensive painting from their collaborations sold at auction.[1][7]

Exhibitions

Zenith has been exhibited at the following art institutions:

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Boucher, Brian (May 24, 2016). "Elton John Sends Warhol/Basquiat to Sotheby's". artnet News. Retrieved 2021-01-13.
  2. ^ a b Faughnan, Ally (May 28, 2019). "The best, worst, and weirdest parts of Warhol and Basquiat's friendship". Dazed. Retrieved 2021-01-13.
  3. ^ Vanderhoof, Erin (July 31, 2019). "Andy Warhol, Jean-Michel Basquiat, and the Friendship That Defined the Art World in 1980s New York City". Vanity Fair. Retrieved 2021-01-14.
  4. ^ Raynor, Vivien (September 20, 1985). "Art: Basquiat, Warhol". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-01-14.
  5. ^ Wines, Michael (August 27, 1988). "Jean Michel Basquiat: Hazards Of Sudden Success and Fame". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-01-14.
  6. ^ Basquiat, Jean-Michel (2019). Basquiat-isms. Princeton University Press. p. 39. ISBN 978-0-691-19283-3.
  7. ^ Kinsella, Eileen (May 15, 2014). "Rothko and Koons Shine At Phillips Sale". artnet News. Retrieved 2021-01-14.
  8. ^ a b c d e f "Jean-Michel Basquiat and Andy Warhol - Zenith, 1985". Phillips. Retrieved 2021-01-14.
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