The artwork, titled “Created Equal” by Jean-Michel Basquiat, is a mixed media piece created around 1984. This artwork utilizes acrylic, oil, pen, pencil, and crayon and belongs to the Neo-Expressionism and Naïve Art (Primitivism) movements. Measuring 91.44 x 63.5 cm, it is a figurative piece and is held in a private collection.
“Created Equal” features a complex and rich layering of symbols, texts, and images. Dominated by bold colors and sharp, expressive lines, the artwork contains a prominent black figure with a skull-like face, encased in chains, which starkly contrasts the vibrant blue, red, yellow, and white surrounding it. The text “ALL MEN ARE CREATED EQUAL” is boldly inscribed on the piece, alongside repeated references to the year “1776” and phrases like “NO JUSTICE NO PEACE” and “CIVIL RIGHTS NOW”. Birds and various abstract forms also populate the composition, contributing to the overall chaotic yet profoundly evocative narrative that explores themes of equality, justice, and civil rights. The deliberate and raw execution of this piece exemplifies Basquiat’s distinctive style and his commentary on social and political issues.
