Jean-Michel Basquiat SAMO Tee 1981

Jean-Michel Basquiat's transition from street artist (SAMO©) to internationally recognized painter happened between 1980-82. The promotional merchandise produced for his early gallery shows in New York — Annina Nosei, Tony Shafrazi — are the rarest artifacts of the East Village art scene. Basquiat's death in 1988 at age 27 elevated these early pieces to historical documents. The crown motif, the skull imagery, and the text-based SAMO© tag make these among the most recognizable youth culture artifacts of the era. Value: $2,000–$8,000.