Basquiat shocked with enigmatic paintings focused on subjects as disparate as graffiti, jazz, classicism, his Caribbean heritage and contemporary racial politics. A self-taught artist and former graffitist his rise to fame was meteoritic. The face of underground culture, he performed in the film New York Beat alongside Debbie Harry, collaborated with Andy Warhol, produced murals and installations for hip nightclubs and embarked on a brief romance with Madonna (rumour has it he introduced the fledgling pop star to gallerist Larry Gagosian and foretold her stardom).
Although he is best known for his frenetic canvases, Basquiat also experimented with textiles, music, poetry, photography, film and even drawing in his own blood. In his tragically short life he produced an astounding amount of work that remarkably still remains unrepresented in any UK collection.
The exhibition seeks to affirm his significance as one of the greatest painters of the 20th century, while also exploring his position as a key figure of popular culture during this period. The show includes important paintings, film clips and his lesser-known drawings.
Location:
Barbican Art Gallery, Level 3, Barbican Centre, Silk Street, London EC2Y 8DS
Times:
Thu – Sat 10am – 10pm
Sun – Wed 10am – 6pm
Price:
£16 book online
The post Basquiat: Boom for Real at Barbican Art Gallery until 28 January 2018 appeared first on InFormed London.
