Menu

Jean-Michel Basquiat

February 7–April 6, 2013
555 West 24th Street, New York

Installation view Artwork © The Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat/ADAGP, Paris, ARS, New York 2013. Photo: Rob McKeever

Installation view

Artwork © The Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat/ADAGP, Paris, ARS, New York 2013. Photo: Rob McKeever

Installation view Artwork © The Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat/ADAGP, Paris, ARS, New York 2013. Photo: Rob McKeever

Installation view

Artwork © The Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat/ADAGP, Paris, ARS, New York 2013. Photo: Rob McKeever

Installation view Artwork © The Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat/ADAGP, Paris, ARS, New York 2013. Photo: Rob McKeever

Installation view

Artwork © The Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat/ADAGP, Paris, ARS, New York 2013. Photo: Rob McKeever

Installation view Artwork © The Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat/ADAGP, Paris, ARS, New York 2013. Photo: Rob McKeever

Installation view

Artwork © The Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat/ADAGP, Paris, ARS, New York 2013. Photo: Rob McKeever

Installation view Artwork © The Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat/ADAGP, Paris, ARS, New York 2013. Photo: Rob McKeever

Installation view

Artwork © The Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat/ADAGP, Paris, ARS, New York 2013. Photo: Rob McKeever

Installation view Artwork © The Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat/ADAGP, Paris, ARS, New York 2013. Photo: Rob McKeever

Installation view

Artwork © The Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat/ADAGP, Paris, ARS, New York 2013. Photo: Rob McKeever

Installation view Artwork © The Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat/ADAGP, Paris, ARS, New York 2013. Photo: Rob McKeever

Installation view

Artwork © The Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat/ADAGP, Paris, ARS, New York 2013. Photo: Rob McKeever

Installation view Artwork © The Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat/ADAGP, Paris, ARS, New York 2013. Photo: Rob McKeever

Installation view

Artwork © The Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat/ADAGP, Paris, ARS, New York 2013. Photo: Rob McKeever

Installation view Artwork © The Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat/ADAGP, Paris, ARS, New York 2013. Photo: Rob McKeever

Installation view

Artwork © The Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat/ADAGP, Paris, ARS, New York 2013. Photo: Rob McKeever

Installation view Artwork © The Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat/ADAGP, Paris, ARS, New York 2013. Photo: Rob McKeever

Installation view

Artwork © The Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat/ADAGP, Paris, ARS, New York 2013. Photo: Rob McKeever

Installation view Artwork © The Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat/ADAGP, Paris, ARS, New York 2013. Photo: Rob McKeever

Installation view

Artwork © The Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat/ADAGP, Paris, ARS, New York 2013. Photo: Rob McKeever

Installation view Artwork © The Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat/ADAGP, Paris, ARS, New York 2013. Photo: Rob McKeever

Installation view

Artwork © The Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat/ADAGP, Paris, ARS, New York 2013. Photo: Rob McKeever

Installation view Artwork © The Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat/ADAGP, Paris, ARS, New York 2013. Photo: Rob McKeever

Installation view

Artwork © The Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat/ADAGP, Paris, ARS, New York 2013. Photo: Rob McKeever

Installation view Artwork © The Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat/ADAGP, Paris, ARS, New York 2013. Photo: Rob McKeever

Installation view

Artwork © The Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat/ADAGP, Paris, ARS, New York 2013. Photo: Rob McKeever

Installation view Artwork © The Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat/ADAGP, Paris, ARS, New York 2013. Photo: Rob McKeever

Installation view

Artwork © The Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat/ADAGP, Paris, ARS, New York 2013. Photo: Rob McKeever

Installation view Artwork © The Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat/ADAGP, Paris, ARS, New York 2013. Photo: Rob McKeever

Installation view

Artwork © The Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat/ADAGP, Paris, ARS, New York 2013. Photo: Rob McKeever

Installation view Artwork © The Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat/ADAGP, Paris, ARS, New York 2013. Photo: Rob McKeever

Installation view

Artwork © The Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat/ADAGP, Paris, ARS, New York 2013. Photo: Rob McKeever

Installation view Artwork © The Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat/ADAGP, Paris, ARS, New York 2013. Photo: Rob McKeever

Installation view

Artwork © The Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat/ADAGP, Paris, ARS, New York 2013. Photo: Rob McKeever

Installation view Artwork © The Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat/ADAGP, Paris, ARS, New York 2013. Photo: Rob McKeever

Installation view

Artwork © The Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat/ADAGP, Paris, ARS, New York 2013. Photo: Rob McKeever

Installation view Artwork © The Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat/ADAGP, Paris, ARS, New York 2013. Photo: Rob McKeever

Installation view

Artwork © The Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat/ADAGP, Paris, ARS, New York 2013. Photo: Rob McKeever

Installation view Artwork © The Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat/ADAGP, Paris, ARS, New York 2013. Photo: Rob McKeever

Installation view

Artwork © The Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat/ADAGP, Paris, ARS, New York 2013. Photo: Rob McKeever

Installation view Artwork © The Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat/ADAGP, Paris, ARS, New York 2013. Photo: Rob McKeever

Installation view

Artwork © The Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat/ADAGP, Paris, ARS, New York 2013. Photo: Rob McKeever

Installation view Artwork © The Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat/ADAGP, Paris, ARS, New York 2013. Photo: Rob McKeever

Installation view

Artwork © The Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat/ADAGP, Paris, ARS, New York 2013. Photo: Rob McKeever

Installation view Artwork © The Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat/ADAGP, Paris, ARS, New York 2013. Photo: Rob McKeever

Installation view

Artwork © The Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat/ADAGP, Paris, ARS, New York 2013. Photo: Rob McKeever

Installation view Artwork © The Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat/ADAGP, Paris, ARS, New York 2013. Photo: Rob McKeever

Installation view

Artwork © The Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat/ADAGP, Paris, ARS, New York 2013. Photo: Rob McKeever

Installation view Artwork © The Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat/ADAGP, Paris, ARS, New York 2013. Photo: Rob McKeever

Installation view

Artwork © The Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat/ADAGP, Paris, ARS, New York 2013. Photo: Rob McKeever

Installation view Artwork © The Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat/ADAGP, Paris, ARS, New York 2013. Photo: Rob McKeever

Installation view

Artwork © The Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat/ADAGP, Paris, ARS, New York 2013. Photo: Rob McKeever

Installation view Artwork © The Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat/ADAGP, Paris, ARS, New York 2013. Photo: Rob McKeever

Installation view

Artwork © The Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat/ADAGP, Paris, ARS, New York 2013. Photo: Rob McKeever

Installation view Artwork © The Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat/ADAGP, Paris, ARS, New York 2013. Photo: Rob McKeever

Installation view

Artwork © The Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat/ADAGP, Paris, ARS, New York 2013. Photo: Rob McKeever

Installation view Artwork © The Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat/ADAGP, Paris, ARS, New York 2013. Photo: Rob McKeever

Installation view

Artwork © The Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat/ADAGP, Paris, ARS, New York 2013. Photo: Rob McKeever

Installation view Artwork © The Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat/ADAGP, Paris, ARS, New York 2013. Photo: Rob McKeever

Installation view

Artwork © The Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat/ADAGP, Paris, ARS, New York 2013. Photo: Rob McKeever

Installation video Play Button

Installation video

Works Exhibited

Jean-Michel Basquiat, Untitled, 1981 Acrylic, oil stick, marker, and pencil on canvas, 72 × 60 inches (182.9 × 152.4 cm)© The Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat/ADAGP, Paris, ARS, New York 2013

Jean-Michel Basquiat, Untitled, 1981

Acrylic, oil stick, marker, and pencil on canvas, 72 × 60 inches (182.9 × 152.4 cm)
© The Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat/ADAGP, Paris, ARS, New York 2013

Jean-Michel Basquiat, Untitled (Julius Caesar on Gold), 1981 Acrylic, oil stick, spray paint, and marker on canvas, 50 × 50 inches (127 × 127 cm)© The Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat/ADAGP, Paris, ARS, New York 2013

Jean-Michel Basquiat, Untitled (Julius Caesar on Gold), 1981

Acrylic, oil stick, spray paint, and marker on canvas, 50 × 50 inches (127 × 127 cm)
© The Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat/ADAGP, Paris, ARS, New York 2013

Jean-Michel Basquiat, La Hara, 1981 Acrylic and oil stick on wood panel, 71 ¾ × 48 inches (182.2 × 121.9 cm)© The Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat/ADAGP, Paris, ARS, New York 2013

Jean-Michel Basquiat, La Hara, 1981

Acrylic and oil stick on wood panel, 71 ¾ × 48 inches (182.2 × 121.9 cm)
© The Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat/ADAGP, Paris, ARS, New York 2013

Jean-Michel Basquiat, Untitled (Sugar Ray Robinson), 1982 Acrylic and oil stick on canvas, 42 × 42 inches (106.7 × 106.7 cm)© The Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat/ADAGP, Paris, ARS, New York 2013

Jean-Michel Basquiat, Untitled (Sugar Ray Robinson), 1982

Acrylic and oil stick on canvas, 42 × 42 inches (106.7 × 106.7 cm)
© The Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat/ADAGP, Paris, ARS, New York 2013

Jean-Michel Basquiat, Untitled (Two Heads on Gold), 1982 Acrylic and oil stick on canvas, 80 × 125 inches (203.2 × 317.5 cm)© The Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat/ADAGP, Paris, ARS, New York 2013

Jean-Michel Basquiat, Untitled (Two Heads on Gold), 1982

Acrylic and oil stick on canvas, 80 × 125 inches (203.2 × 317.5 cm)
© The Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat/ADAGP, Paris, ARS, New York 2013

Jean-Michel Basquiat, In Italian, 1983 Acrylic and oil stick on canvas with exposed wood supports, 89 ⅛ × 80 ½ inches (226.4 × 204.5 cm), Brant Foundation, Greenwich, Connecticut© The Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat/ADAGP, Paris, ARS, New York 2013

Jean-Michel Basquiat, In Italian, 1983

Acrylic and oil stick on canvas with exposed wood supports, 89 ⅛ × 80 ½ inches (226.4 × 204.5 cm), Brant Foundation, Greenwich, Connecticut
© The Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat/ADAGP, Paris, ARS, New York 2013

Jean-Michel Basquiat, Frogmen, 1983 Acrylic, oil stick, and Xerox copies on canvas with metal hinges, 48 × 185 ¼ inches (121.9 × 470.5 cm), Glenstone© The Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat/ADAGP, Paris, ARS, New York 2013

Jean-Michel Basquiat, Frogmen, 1983

Acrylic, oil stick, and Xerox copies on canvas with metal hinges, 48 × 185 ¼ inches (121.9 × 470.5 cm), Glenstone
© The Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat/ADAGP, Paris, ARS, New York 2013

About

It’s about 80% anger.
—Jean-Michel Basquiat

Gagosian Gallery is pleased to announce a major exhibition of works by Jean-Michel Basquiat.

Featuring over fifty works from public and private collections, the exhibition spans Basquiat’s brief but meteoric career, which ended with his death at the age of twenty-seven. Thirty years after Larry Gagosian first presented his work in Los Angeles, twenty years after the first posthumous survey at the Whitney Museum of American Art (1992–93), and eight years after the Brooklyn Museum of Art retrospective (2005), viewers will have a fresh opportunity to consider Basquiat’s central role in his artistic generation as a lightning rod and a bridge between cultures.

Basquiat left his family home in Brooklyn at the age of fifteen and took to the streets. A voracious autodidact, he quickly became a denizen of the explosive and decadent New York underground scene—a noise musician who loved jazz, and a street poet who scrawled his sophisticated aphorisms in Magic Marker across the walls of downtown Manhattan, copyrighting them under the name SAMO. In 1981, he killed off this alter ego and began painting, first on salvaged materials then later on canvas, and making bricolage with materials scavenged from the urban environment. From the outset he worked compulsively. He sold his first painting in 1981, and by 1982, spurred by the Neo-Expressionist art boom, his work was in great demand. In 1985, he was featured on the cover of The New York Times Magazine in connection with an article on the newly exuberant international art market. It was unprecedented for an African-American artist, and for one so young. In that photograph, Basquiat is a vision of cool, sprawled in a chair in front of one of his bold paintings in an elegant three-piece suit and tie, with bunched dreadlocks and bare feet.

Read more