A new exhibit is set to unite eight previously unseen works by Jean-Michel Basquiat, originally intended for a contentious exhibition in Italy 41 years ago that the artist and his dealers cancelled.
Slated to debut next month at the Fondation Beyeler in Basel, Switzerland, the exhibit, named “Basquiat: The Modena Paintings,” will feature the painting “The Guilt of Gold Teeth,” which fetched a price of $40 million at a 2021 Christie’s auction.
Back in 1982, Basquiat was invited by Italian dealer Emilio Mazzoli to produce these works for a unique show. Mazzoli supplied Basquiat with a workspace and art materials, whereupon the street artist chose to paint over reused canvases by another artist, Mario Schifano, with “Modena” inscribed on the reverse. However, due to disputes regarding payment for the artworks, the initially planned European exhibition was cancelled, coincidentally when Basquiat gained global recognition.
These large-scale pieces are housed in eight private collections spanning the US, Asia, and Switzerland.
In a 1985 conversation with the New York Times, Basquiat expressed his disdain for the Modena experience, stating, “They set it up for me so I’d have to make eight paintings in a week,” and referring to the provided workspace as “a sick factory.” He further remarked, “I hated it.” The works subsequently found new owners through Annina Nosei, Basquiat’s New York dealer.
According to a statement from Fondation Beyeler, the “Modena Paintings” carry several recurring themes and stylistic elements, featuring “a monumental, often black figure set against a background of broad, gestural and expressive brushstrokes… the human and the animal body take center stage.”
Director of the Fondation Beyeler, Sam Keller, told The Art Newspaper: “With every next generation, the importance of Basquiat’s work is increasing further. His innovative blend of images and words referencing high and popular culture, history, science, and social and economic injustice was revolutionary and more relevant today than ever. These paintings, crafted over 40 years ago, have never been exhibited together. The reunion of these works is eagerly anticipated.”
The average insurance worth of each painting is $100 million, making the collection’s total valuation $800 million, as per Fondation Beyeler.
The Basquiat market continues to flourish, with significant works by the late US street artist taking the spotlight in New York sales this month. “Moon View,” a 1984 painting from the collection of the late music tycoon Mo Ostin, is slated for auction at Sotheby’s on May 16, with an expected high bid of $10 million. In the same week, Christie’s will auction “El Gran Espectaculo (The Nile),” a 1983 piece from the collection of Italian fashion mogul Valentino Garavani, with a projection of around $45 million.
As the fervour for Basquiat’s work continues to rise, art enthusiasts and investors alike await with bated breath to witness the reunion of the “Modena Paintings.” A long overdue exhibition, it offers an exclusive peek into a significant yet less-known chapter of Basquiat’s artistic journey. With their display at the Fondation Beyeler, these rarely-seen paintings will honour Basquiat’s lasting legacy and reinforce his undeniable influence and relevance in contemporary art.
