# Equals Pi > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Equals_Pi > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Equals_Pi.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equals_Pi > Source revision: 1262569417 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) 1982 painting by Jean-Michel Basquiat Equals Pi Artist Jean-Michel Basquiat Year 1982 Medium Acrylic and oilstick on canvas Movement Neo-expressionism Dimensions 182.9 cm × 182.9 cm (72.0 in × 72.0 in) Owner Tiffany & Co. ***Equals Pi*** is a painting created by American artist [Jean-Michel Basquiat](/source/Jean-Michel_Basquiat) in 1982. The painting was published in *[GQ](/source/GQ)* magazine in 1983 and *[W](/source/W_(magazine))* magazine in 2018.[1][2] ## History *Equals Pi* was executed by Jean-Michel Basquiat in 1982, which is considered his most coveted year.[3] The [robin egg blue](/source/Robin_egg_blue) painting contains Basquiat's signature crown motif and a head alongside his characteristic scrawled text with phrases such as "AMORITE," "TEN YEN" and "DUNCE."[4] The title refers to the mathematical equations incorporated on the right side of the work. The cone refers to the pointed [dunce caps](/source/Dunce) depicted in the work.[5] The painting was acquired in 1982 by Anne Dayton, the advertising manager of *[Artforum](/source/Artforum)* magazine.[6] She purchased it for $7,000 from Basquiat's exhibition at the [Fun Gallery](/source/Fun_Gallery) in the [East Village](/source/East_Village%2C_Manhattan).[6] At the time the painting was called *Still Pi*. However, when the work appeared in the March 1983 issue of *[GQ](/source/GQ)* magazine, it was titled *Knowledge of the Cone*, which is written on the top of the painting.[1] According to reports in August 2021, the luxury jewelry brand [Tiffany & Co.](/source/Tiffany_%26_Co.) had recently acquired the painting privately from the Sabbadini family, for a price in the range of $15 million to $20 million.[7][8] The painting, which is largely in the brand's signature blue color, is displayed in the [Tiffany & Co. Landmark store](/source/Tiffany_%26_Co._flagship_store) on [Fifth Avenue](/source/Fifth_Avenue) in New York City.[9] Although initial reports claimed that the painting had never been seen before, it had previously been offered at auction twice and had appeared in magazines.[10][8] The work was first offered at a [Sotheby's](/source/Sotheby's) sale in London in June 1990, where it went unsold.[11] In December 1996, the Sabbadinis, a Milan-based clan behind the eponymous jewelry house, purchased it at a Sotheby's London auction for $253,000.[12][4] Mother and daughter Stefania and Micól Sabbadini posed in front of the painting in their living room for a 2018 feature in *W* magazine.[2] ## Use in Tiffany & Co. campaign In 2021, luxury jewelry company [Tiffany & Co.](/source/Tiffany_%26_Co.) partnered with American singer [Beyoncé](/source/Beyonc%C3%A9) and rapper [Jay-Z](/source/Jay-Z) to promote the company's "About Love" campaign. In the campaign, Jay-Z is seen wearing his hair much like Basquiat posing in front of *Equals Pi*.[13] The campaign was used to showcase the company's new art purchase, as the painting features a color close to the company's signature [Tiffany Blue](/source/Tiffany_Blue).[14] The campaign was met with criticism from the artist's former friends and colleagues.[15] Stephen Torton, a former assistant of Basquiat's, posted a statement on [Instagram](/source/Instagram) saying, "I designed and built stretchers, painted backgrounds, glued drawings down on canvas, chauffeured, traveled extensively, spoke freely about many topics and worked endless hours side by side in silence. The idea that this blue background, which I mixed and applied was in any way related to [Tiffany Blue](/source/Tiffany_Blue) is so absurd that at first I chose not to comment. But this very perverse appropriation of the artist's inspiration is too much."[6] Furthermore, a curator of Basquiat's work has stated that if the use of this shade of blue was in reference to Tiffany, it would have been intended as criticism rather than an homage or as something to be commercialized by the company.[15] ## See also - [List of paintings by Jean-Michel Basquiat](/source/List_of_paintings_by_Jean-Michel_Basquiat) - [1982 in art](/source/1982_in_art) ## References 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:4_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:4_1-1) Carlsen, Peter; Smith, Philip (March 1983). "The Next Wave Art: Electrically Electric". *GQ*: 227. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:5_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:5_2-1) Hoare, Philip (August 14, 2018). ["Go Inside the Understated Yet Eccentric Milan Home of the Fabulous Sabbadini Family"](https://www.wmagazine.com/story/sabbadini-milan-home). *W Magazine*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20210824010706/https://www.wmagazine.com/story/sabbadini-milan-home) from the original on 2021-08-24. Retrieved 2021-08-24. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Gotthardt, Alexxa (2018-04-01). ["What Makes 1982 Basquiat's Most Valuable Year"](https://www.artsy.net/article/artsy-editorial-1982-basquiats-valuable-year). *Artsy*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20200525160138/https://www.artsy.net/article/artsy-editorial-1982-basquiats-valuable-year) from the original on 2020-05-25. Retrieved 2021-08-23. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:3_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:3_4-1) Villa, Angelica (2021-08-23). ["Beyoncé and Jay-Z Pose with Long-Unseen Basquiat in Tiffany Campaign"](https://www.artnews.com/art-news/market/beyonce-jay-z-tiffany-basquiat-1234602125/). *ARTnews.com*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20210824030548/https://www.artnews.com/art-news/market/beyonce-jay-z-tiffany-basquiat-1234602125/) from the original on 2021-08-24. Retrieved 2021-08-24. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Sayej, Nadja (August 23, 2021). ["Beyoncé And Jay-Z Pose Alongside Rare Basquiat Painting In Jewelry Ad"](https://www.forbes.com/sites/nadjasayej/2021/08/23/beyonc-and-jay-z-pose-alongside-rare-basquiat-painting-in-jewelry-ad/). *Forbes*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20210902013826/https://www.forbes.com/sites/nadjasayej/2021/08/23/beyonc-and-jay-z-pose-alongside-rare-basquiat-painting-in-jewelry-ad/) from the original on 2021-09-02. Retrieved 2021-09-02. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:6_6-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:6_6-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-:6_6-2) Friedman, Vanessa (2021-09-01). ["The Mystery of That Basquiat Painting — and Its Tiffany Blue"](https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/01/style/tiffany-basquiat-jay-z-beyonce.html). *The New York Times*. [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [0362-4331](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0362-4331). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20211109001040/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/01/style/tiffany-basquiat-jay-z-beyonce.html) from the original on 2021-11-09. Retrieved 2021-11-09. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-:0_7-0)** Kinsella, Eileen (August 23, 2021). ["Here's the Little-Known History of the Robin's Egg Blue Basquiat Painting That Stars in Beyoncé and Jay-Z's New Tiffany Ad"](https://news.artnet.com/art-world/tiffany-unveils-new-ad-campaign-starring-beyonce-and-basquiat-2001708). *Artnet News*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20210823211422/https://news.artnet.com/art-world/tiffany-unveils-new-ad-campaign-starring-beyonce-and-basquiat-2001708) from the original on 2021-08-23. Retrieved 2021-08-24. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:1_8-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:1_8-1) Socha, Miles (August 23, 2021). ["EXCLUSIVE: Beyoncé and Jay-Z Meet a Blue Basquiat in Tiffany's New Campaign"](https://wwd.com/accessories-news/jewelry/beyonce-jay-z-tiffany-ad-campaign-1234900967/). *WWD*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20210824002113/https://wwd.com/accessories-news/jewelry/beyonce-jay-z-tiffany-ad-campaign-1234900967/) from the original on 2021-08-24. Retrieved 2021-08-24. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-nyt-2023-04-20_9-0)** Vadukul, Alex (2023-04-20). ["The New Tiffany, Unboxed"](https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/20/style/tiffany-fifth-avenue-store.html). *The New York Times*. [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [0362-4331](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0362-4331). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20230427084836/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/20/style/tiffany-fifth-avenue-store.html) from the original on 2023-04-27. Retrieved 2023-04-28. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-:2_10-0)** Holmes, Helen (2021-08-23). ["A Never-Before-Seen Basquiat Is the Star of Beyoncé and Jay-Z's New Tiffany's Ad"](https://observer.com/2021/08/basquiat-beyonce-jay-z-tiffanys/). *Observer*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20210824020759/https://observer.com/2021/08/basquiat-beyonce-jay-z-tiffanys/) from the original on 2021-08-24. Retrieved 2021-08-23. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** Liscia, Valentina Di (August 24, 2021). ["Tiffany's Wants You to Think It Inspired a Blue Basquiat Painting"](http://hyperallergic.com/671927/tiffanys-wants-you-to-think-they-inspired-a-blue-basquiat-painting/). *Hyperallergic*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20210824235306/https://hyperallergic.com/671927/tiffanys-wants-you-to-think-they-inspired-a-blue-basquiat-painting/) from the original on 2021-08-24. Retrieved 2021-08-25. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** Freeman, Nate (August 24, 2021). ["The Curious History of the Basquiat in That Jay-Z and Beyoncé Tiffany Ad"](https://www.vanityfair.com/style/2021/08/basquiat-jay-z-beyonce-tiffany). *Vanity Fair*. Retrieved 2021-08-26. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** ["Beyoncé and JAY-Z x Tiffany: About Love | Tiffany & Co"](https://www.tiffany.co.uk/stories/guide/beyonce-and-jay-z-about-love/). *www.tiffany.co.uk*. Retrieved 2023-12-25. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** Friedman, Vanessa (2021-09-01). ["The Mystery of That Basquiat Painting — and Its Tiffany Blue"](https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/01/style/tiffany-basquiat-jay-z-beyonce.html). *The New York Times*. [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [0362-4331](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0362-4331). Retrieved 2023-12-25. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:7_15-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:7_15-1) Baker, Sinéad. ["Basquiat's friends and collaborators say they are 'horrified' by Beyoncé and Jay-Z's Tiffany campaign with his art"](https://www.businessinsider.com/basquiat-friends-collaborators-horrified-beyonce-jay-z-tiffany-ad-2021-9). *Business Insider*. Retrieved 2024-01-11. v t e Jean-Michel Basquiat Artworks List of paintings La Hara (1981) Untitled (Fishing) (1981) Irony of Negro Policeman (1981) The Field Next to the Other Road (1981) Untitled (Tar Tar Tar, Lead Lead Lead) (1981) Cadillac Moon (1981) Bird on Money (1981) Untitled (Skull) (1981) Untitled (Devil) (1982) Untitled (Skull) (1982) Boy and Dog in a Johnnypump (1982) Dustheads (1982) Gem Spa (1982) A Panel of Experts (1982) Dos Cabezas (1982) Versus Medici (1982) Untitled (Head) (1982) Hannibal (1982) Crown Hotel (Mona Lisa Black Background) (1982) Leonardo da Vinci's Greatest Hits (1982) Untitled (Pollo Frito) (1982) Donut Revenge (1982) Charles the First (1982) Red Skull (1982) Warrior (1982) Untitled (One Eyed Man or Xerox Face) (1982) Mecca (1982) Equals Pi (1982) The Guilt of Gold Teeth (1982) Flesh and Spirit (1982-83) El Gran Espectaculo (The Nile) (1983) Hollywood Africans (1983) In This Case (1983) Defacement (The Death of Michael Stewart) (1983) Undiscovered Genius of the Mississippi Delta (1983) Sabado por la Noche (1984) Olympics (1984) Flexible (1984) Taxi, 45th/Broadway (1984-85) Zenith (1985) Jim Crow (1986) Music Gray "Beat Bop" (1983) Homes 57 Great Jones Street Films on Basquiat Basquiat (1996) Downtown 81 (2000) Jean-Michel Basquiat: The Radiant Child (2010) Boom for Real: The Late Teenage Years of Jean-Michel Basquiat (2017) Basquiat: Rage to Riches (2017) Samo Lives (TBA) Books on Basquiat Basquiat: A Quick Killing in Art (1998) Radiant Child: The Story of Young Artist Jean-Michel Basquiat (2016) Related SAMO Jean-Michel Basquiat (1982 painting) A Pile of Crowns for Jean-Michel Basquiat (1988 painting) Life Doesn't Frighten Me (1993 book) "Basquiat" (2020 song) Place Jean-Michel Basquiat --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Equals Pi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equals_Pi) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equals_Pi?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.