Jean-Michel Basquiat’s Wolf Sausage (1982–83/2019) captures the raw intensity and inventive brilliance of the artist’s most pivotal early period. Drawing from the visual language of his groundbreaking 1982–83 works, the composition is layered with frenetic linework, fragmented text, and symbolic imagery that oscillates between humor and critique. References to “wolf,” anatomy, and coded phrases unfold across the surface in a seemingly instinctive yet highly deliberate arrangement, reflecting Basquiat’s ability to merge street-born spontaneity with sharp intellectual commentary.

The work’s subdued, almost parchment-like ground contrasts with bursts of expressive mark-making, creating a tension between restraint and urgency that defines Basquiat’s most compelling compositions. Rich in narrative and visual complexity, Wolf Sausage embodies the artist’s exploration of identity, language, and cultural hierarchy during his meteoric rise. Highly sought after by collectors, works rooted in this seminal period carry exceptional significance, offering both historical depth and immediate visual impact—making this a powerful and distinctive addition to any serious collection of postwar and contemporary art.

Created in 1982-83/2019, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Wolf Sausage screenprint bears the signatures of Lisane Basquiat and Jeanine Heriveaux, Administrators' of the Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat on verso as well as the stamps of The Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat. From the edition of 50, this work was published by Flatiron Editions.

Catalogue Raisonné & COA:

Jean-Michel Basquiat Wolf Sausage, 1982-83/2019 is fully documented and referenced in the below catalogue raisonnés and texts (copies will be enclosed as added documentation with the invoices that will accompany the final sale of the work).

1. A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany this work.

About the Framing:

Framed to museum-grade, conservation standards, this Jean-Michel Basquiat artwork is presented in a complementary moulding and optical grade Plexiglas.