art. Researchers suspect 25 “rare” works by American artist on display at Orlando Museum of Art
The genius of the artist Jean-Michel Basquiat died out in the late 1980s at the age of 27, but he left behind more than 2000 works of graffiti and neo-expressionism, full of messages and color, in various formats and media. A handful of these works, “rare” and never exhibited, are now grouped together in the “Heroes and Monsters” exhibition at the Orlando Museum of Art (Florida, United States), which will remain open until the end of this month, before coming to Europe.
An untitled self-portrait stands out, with Basquiat putting a crown on his black hair, with wild eyes and an open mouth. Painted on a box of the shipping company FedEx is something that has aroused the suspicion of the Artistic Crimes Unit of the FBI: The letters of the logo stamped on the cardboard began to be used six years after his death.
This is just an indication that has emerged from the survey that began almost a year ago. There is a suspicion surrounding these paintings, which are said to have been made in Los Angeles in 1982. Legend has it that the 25 were sold together for $5,000 to the now deceased series writer ‘MASH’. They remained off the radar of collectors until they were discovered in a warehouse whose contents were sold blind for non-payment in 2012.
Now the 25 works are for sale, but far from a stratospheric offer – in 2021 the work ‘In this case’ was sold for 75 million euros – there are no buyers. A curtain of mistrust prevents collectors from reaching for their checkbooks and institutions from opening their doors. The Orlando Museum is putting its reputation on the line.
Despite the doubts, no authority has publicly spoken out against these works. With the works of the prolific Basquiat, dismissal could lead to court, as has already happened. “They are original,” museum director Aaron De Groft told local media at the opening. It has also garnered the approval of other experts, including some members of a disbanded committee dedicated solely to authenticating works by this artist who fueled the canon of universal fine art. Like Warhol, who was his mentor, De Kooning or Keith Haring.
“Shown to the public for the first time,” the response was surprising, with nearly 10,000 daily visitors in the first weeks, according to organizers’ accounts. About the dubious FedEx letters, De Groft said they were already in use in the 1970s. But the FBI is continuing to question and review the minutes and emails of all the people involved in this artistic transaction, from the patrons to the employees. According to local media, he also seized several computers.
Source: La Verdad
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
