Charles The First
by Jean-Michel Basquiat
Year: 1982/2004
Medium: Screen Print on Lenox Museum Board
Size: 61″ X 48″ in
Edition of 85
A commanding example of Jean-Michel Basquiat’s iconic visual language, Charles The First (1982/2004) is a screenprint on Lenox Museum Board measuring 61 × 48 inches, produced in a limited edition of 85. The work explores themes of power, history, and identity through Basquiat’s expressive symbolism and Neo-Expressionist approach. Its significant imagery, limited availability, and established provenance make it a distinguished acquisition for collectors of important contemporary art.
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Charles the First is one of Jean-Michel Basquiat’s most celebrated works, created in 1982 during the peak of his meteoric rise in the contemporary art world. The work originated from Basquiat’s studio practice and does not have a street graffiti version. While Basquiat began as SAMO, creating poetic graffiti across New York City, Charles the First reflects his breakthrough period when his raw street vocabulary evolved into powerful gallery paintings.
The artwork pays tribute to jazz legend Charlie Parker, whom Basquiat admired deeply. Through crowns, fragmented text, and symbolic imagery, Basquiat explores genius, recognition, creativity, and the struggles faced by influential Black figures throughout history. The crown motif represents achievement and royalty, while the layered composition reflects the tension between artistic brilliance and societal barriers.
Collectors consider Charles the First a masterpiece-level Basquiat work. Original paintings from 1982 are among the most sought-after in the market, valued for their rarity, historical significance, and connection to the artist’s most influential period.
At ArtLife Gallery, we view Charles the First as a defining statement of Basquiat’s legacy. Alongside Untitled (1982), Hollywood Africans, Flexible, and Riding with Death, it demonstrates his extraordinary ability to transform personal heroes, cultural history, and social commentary into timeless contemporary art.
More Jean-Michel Basquiat Works to Explore
Charles The First
by Jean-Michel Basquiat
Year: 1982/2004
Medium: Screen Print on Lenox Museum Board
Size: 61″ X 48″ in
Edition of 85
A commanding example of Jean-Michel Basquiat’s iconic visual language, Charles The First (1982/2004) is a screenprint on Lenox Museum Board measuring 61 × 48 inches, produced in a limited edition of 85. The work explores themes of power, history, and identity through Basquiat’s expressive symbolism and Neo-Expressionist approach. Its significant imagery, limited availability, and established provenance make it a distinguished acquisition for collectors of important contemporary art.
Charles the First is one of Jean-Michel Basquiat’s most celebrated works, created in 1982 during the peak of his meteoric rise in the contemporary art world. The work originated from Basquiat’s studio practice and does not have a street graffiti version. While Basquiat began as SAMO, creating poetic graffiti across New York City, Charles the First reflects his breakthrough period when his raw street vocabulary evolved into powerful gallery paintings.
The artwork pays tribute to jazz legend Charlie Parker, whom Basquiat admired deeply. Through crowns, fragmented text, and symbolic imagery, Basquiat explores genius, recognition, creativity, and the struggles faced by influential Black figures throughout history. The crown motif represents achievement and royalty, while the layered composition reflects the tension between artistic brilliance and societal barriers.
Collectors consider Charles the First a masterpiece-level Basquiat work. Original paintings from 1982 are among the most sought-after in the market, valued for their rarity, historical significance, and connection to the artist’s most influential period.
At ArtLife Gallery, we view Charles the First as a defining statement of Basquiat’s legacy. Alongside Untitled (1982), Hollywood Africans, Flexible, and Riding with Death, it demonstrates his extraordinary ability to transform personal heroes, cultural history, and social commentary into timeless contemporary art.