Jean-Michel Basquiat Area 1985:
Basquiat created the illustration for this printed invitation on the occasion of his December 19th, 1985 birthday at the much historic, New York 1980s nightclub, Area. A VIP invite celebrating Basquiat's birthday alongside Eric Goode - Area Co-Founder & brother of Jennifer Goode, Basquiat's girlfriend/romantic interest at the time. Among the rarest & most sought after Basquiat collectibles of all. Seldom comes to market. Not to be passed upon.
Offset lithograph. 11x17 inches.
Very good to excellent overall condition; contains a faint center fold-line created for mailing purposes; pen marking to the reverse (not visible on front-side).
Provenance: Private collection, New York.
Unsigned form and edition of unknown. Few known to have survived - especially in fine condition.
Exhibitions, Literature & References:
Montreal Museum of Fine Arts: Seeing Loud: Basquiat and Music (Buchhart, Bessières, Desmarais); entry 171.
Basquiat Soundtracks: Paris Philharmonic (2023).
Basquiat: Boom for Real: Barbican London 2017: exhibition (& catalog by Buchhart, Nairne & Johnson; pg., 138).
AREA: The Exhibition. The Hole Gallery NYC, 2013, curated by Jeffrey Deitch.
AREA 1983-1987 by Eric Goode, and Jennifer Goode (Abrams Books 2013).
Collections:
The Andy Warhol Museum, Pittsburgh.
Area Nightclub (1983-1987): A Brief History:
This much fabled New York nightclub Area opened its doors in September 1983 and virtually overnight became the nexus of one of the most vibrant downtown art and club scenes in New York. Every six weeks, they transformed the enormous space at 157 Hudson with a different art theme.
Area was the place where A-listers such as Andy Warhol, Francesco Clemente, Julian Schnabel, Madonna, JFK Jr. & many others went to see and be seen: A place where Basquiat often DJ'd, while Keith Haring and Andy Warhol produced several installations.
Area's wildly creative invitations to the opening night of each new installation became the hottest tickets in town and instantly collectible art in and of themselves.
Offered by Lot 180 Gallery New York: https://www.1stdibs.com/dealers/lot-180/
Contact:
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