Arresting and visceral, Untitled (The Arm) (1982) by Jean-Michel Basquiat confronts viewers with a haunting vision of the human form — a mask-like head and outstretched arm, both skeletal and alive with raw energy. Painted on a repurposed quilted blanket, the work captures Basquiat’s signature fusion of urgency, symbolism, and emotion. The textured surface resists the paint, embodying the tension between confinement and expression, chaos and control. Created during the pivotal year Basquiat rose to international fame, Untitled (The Arm) stands as a powerful testament to his relentless exploration of the body, identity, and the spirit beneath the skin.
This highlight work features in the Contemporary Evening Auction presented by CELINE. Bringing together a curated selection of works that reflect the seismic shifts in art-making from the post-war period to the present day, the auction takes place at Sotheby’s London on 16 October.
