There is an important new Exhibition of one of the most influential queer artists of the 20th Century, Jean-Michel Basquiat, about to open in the Brooklyn Museum which is a real must see. Even though it actually consists of just one painting
“Untitled (1982)” is one of Brooklyn-born Basquiat’s greatest works — a vibrant, colorful and raw mixture of scribbly abstract expressionism and street art that fetched a jaw-dropping $110.5 million at auction in May. It was the highest price ever paid at auction for a work by an American artist.
The painting’s new owner, Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa, has loaned the painting to the Brooklyn Museum for the exhibition aptly named ‘One Basquiat’. It will also include photos, video and a couple of Basquiat’s personal belongings, including two of his junior-membership cards to the Brooklyn Museum.
“One Basquiat” runs through March 11 at the Brooklyn Museum, 200 Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn; 718-638-5000, BrooklynMuseum.org
However, if you need to see more than one, then call LUFTHANSA and book a flight to Frankfurt and head for the Schirn Kunsthalle where they are about to mount an Exhibit called BASQUIAT. BOOM FOR REAL. Curated in conjunction with the Barbican Gallery in London, the exhibition is also the first to focus on Basquiat’s relationship to music, text, film, and television, situating the artist’s formidable talents within a broader cultural context
The Exhibit with about 100 works Basquiat’s relationship to music, texts, film, and television of his time becomes clear for the first time in a superordinate cultural context. It brings together outstanding paintings, drawings, notebooks and objects from public and private collections as well as rare films, photographs, music and archival material, thus making the variety and dynamics of Basquiat’s artistic production impressively visible.
It’s exactly 40 years since Basquiat died just aged 27-years-old, so no better a time to re-visit his stunning legacy of work.
BASQUIAT 16th February - 27th May Further information http://www.schirn.de/en/
P.S. Later this year Magnolia Pictures will be releasing a new documentary on Basquiat also called Boom for Real The Late Teenage Years directed by Sara Driver who was a close friend of his: here’s a sneak preview
