THIS WEEK'S STRAIGHT-UP

ALL-TIME SUPERBOOK IS

JEAN-MICHEL BASQUIAT'S EXCEPTIONAL SCARCITY PORTRAITS 45 PLATES. THE MOST CHERISHABLY PERFECTLY ADORABLE

BOOK IN THE WORLD. ALL

YOU EVER WANTED IS HERE AND NOW.

Simple. Truthful. Beautiful. Issued in 1996 by Basquiat's publisher Bruno Bischofberger (editor of Paintings and Drawings both 1985). Ever so scarce now. More so when this newsletter's work is done. It is a have-to-have book. And then some.

Between 1983 and 1984 Basquiat made these drawings directly onto ceramic plates with marker pens. There are 45 in total, as the title tells you. They were bought by Andy Warhol and remain in his estate. Basquiat marker-penned the portraits of artists (the great Rubens, above) and pop cultural legends of his own lifetime directly onto the ceramics.



His contemporary Futura 2000 gets a plate. 
 

Fab 5 Freddy is coming to dinner. 
 

More randomly so is Alfred Hitchcock (with amusing line break). 
 

The artist himself in typically scrambled self-portrait. HOLLYWOOD AFRICAN are the words crossed out. 
 

Referenced again at the closing of Francesco Clemente's very elegant text introduction to the book. 

It is an exercise in simple perfection this book. Everything is right with it. And with the world too, for that time you take out to contemplate it. 

One near mint copy on the blue button below.