Undying Love (from the series 'The African American')
Mixed media painting on canvas • In the manner of Jean-Michel Basquiat or a contemporary artist influenced by Neo-Expressionism
Style & Movement
Neo-Expressionism / Post-Black Art. The style is heavily influenced by the raw, street-art aesthetics of the 1980s New York art scene.
Medium & Technique
Acrylic, oil stick, collage elements (paper, found Xeroxes), and gold leaf on canvas. Techniques include collage, scumbling, and expressive gestural mark-making.
Creation Period
Modern period (Late 20th Century, circa 1980s-1990s)
Dimensions & Format
Large-scale square format, estimated approximately 60 x 60 inches (152 x 152 cm).
Subject Description
A central large profile head with a textured, mask-like appearance, surrounded by a border of smaller heads and kneeling figures resembling religious icons or saints. The background contains collaged diagrams, possibly referring to historical maritime or architectural schematics, overlaid on a vibrant red field. Themes include African-American history, identity, religion, and the diaspora.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Good. The artwork appears vibrant; however, the mixed-media nature and collage elements are prone to edge lifting and inherent fragility.
Estimated Market Value
$5,000 - $15,000 (Note: Value depends significantly on authentication as a primary artist or a follower; as a high-quality tribute/contemporary piece, it holds decorative and thematic value).
Auction Estimate
$4,000 - $8,000
Provenance History
Unknown. No visible labels or stamps; typically such works come from private collections or galleries specializing in contemporary urban art.
Art Historical Significance
The work reflects the profound impact of Jean-Michel Basquiat on contemporary visual language. It utilizes iconographic symbols (haloes on kneeling figures) and 'primitive' mask-forms to comment on the intersection of spirituality and racial history. It is highly representative of late 20th-century appropriation and social commentary through collage.
Notable Features
Distinctive use of gold-leaf halos contrasting with raw oil-stick line work; inclusion of technical-style diagrams in the central collage that provide a 'narrative' layer beneath the expressive portraiture.
Condition Issues
Possible minor yellowing of collaged paper fragments; adhesive degradation common in mixed-media works; minor scuffing on the bright red acrylic surface.
Conservation Recommendations
Should be kept out of direct sunlight to prevent fading of the red pigment and embrittlement of collage. Professional framing with UV-protective glazing is highly recommended.