A Joni Mitchell signed and numbered limited edition lithograph of her painting A Chair in the Sky.  This painting of legendary jazz composer and bassist Charles Mingus is reproduced in the gatefold of Mitchell’s 1979 album Mingus.

This was one of a small group of Mitchell’s works offered for sale at her May 1988 exhibition eclection, at Tokyo’s Parco Gallery. This show was the first and only exhibition during which Joni actually sold paintings.  She attended the opening reception on May 20^th.

In the 1979 book StarArt, Joni said of this work I painted almost constantly for two days to do this portrait of Charles Mingus. I had his features down, so the likeness was there, but there was no real emotion coming off. I just kept pushing the paint around on the board, waiting for the right expression to appear; then suddenly it was there. The emotion is a very complex one in a way. I’m hesitant to say the emotions I think it embodies but if I were in his place I think I know what he would have been feeling at that time in his life and I think I’ve captured it.

Nine years later, in the eclection catalog, Joni simply noted ‘I painted this in a night and a day. Charlie was dying and he was frightened.’ 

The lithograph has been signed and numbered in pencil 62/125 by Joni Mitchell.  Below the image ‘joni mitchell’ and ‘eclection’ is embossed. In virtually mint condition.

Sheet: 14 3/8” x 20 ¼”. Image: 9 1/8” x 9 1/4”.

Gifted by Joni Mitchell to a recording engineer friend.

With Recordmecca’s written guarantee of authenticity.