| Taxi, 45th/Broadway | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Artist | Jean-Michel Basquiat and Andy Warhol |
| Year | 1984-85 |
| Medium | Acrylic, oilstick, and silkscreen ink on canvas |
| Dimensions | 196.2 cm × 272.4 cm (77.2 in × 107.2 in) |
| Location | Private collection |
Taxi, 45th/Broadway is a painting created by American artists Jean-Michel Basquiat and Andy Warhol circa 1984–85. The artwork sold at Sotheby's for $9.4 million in November 2018.[1]
Andy Warhol and Jean-Michel Basquiat were formally introduced by Swiss art dealer Bruno Bischofberger in 1982.[2] Warhol was a renowned celebrity looking for renewed energy to revitalize his work and Basquiat had achieved recognition for his neo-expressionist paintings. Between 1984 and 1985, they created a series large collaborative works.[2] As summarized by close friend and artist Keith Haring: "The paintings that resulted from this collaboration are the perfect testimony to the depth and importance of their friendship. The quality of the paintings mirrors the quality of the relationship."[3]
Taxi 45th/Broadway depicts a black man labeled "NEGRO" as he unsuccessfully attempts to hail a cab at 45th Street and Broadway. Meanwhile, a white taxi driver ignores him and curses profanities. This scenario was a reality for Basquiat.[4] Despite his meteoric rise from a downtown street artist to a sensation of the New York art scene, he still faced discrimination due to his race. "Being black and a kid and having dreadlocks, he couldn't even get a taxi," Haring said.[5]
Taxi, 45th/Broadway was previously in the collection of fashion designer Gianni Versace, and was auctioned by Sotheby's in London for £478,400 ($872,992) in 2005.[6] In November 2018, it exceeded the pre-sale estimate of $6–$8 million, selling for $9.4 million at Sotheby's Contemporary Art Evening Auction in New York.[7]
