Jean-Michel Basquiat rose out of the madness of the New York City art scene during the weird as shit ‘80s. Raw, expressive, and packed with social commentary, this wild dude from Brooklyn started out as a graffiti artist, and heel-kicked his way into what we have societally agreed to call “the art world.”
The thing is, his unique style, usage of color, text, and symbols was all a reflection of how fucked everything was in NYC, especially in the 80s. Crime, poverty, drug addiction; there were so many issues that were on the rise, that Basquiat’s focus on highlighting marginalized communities while critiquing the power structures perpetuating inequality was like a gritty, unapologetic gut punch. From African art to pop culture and jazz, he mashed context together and dropped narratives that were difficult to ignore.
One of the things I love about his work is how much of his self was in his work. He was active in the urban art scene, which back then meant he was also rolling with folks like Keith Harin, Andy Warhol, Fab Five Freddy, and even the Run-DMC crew. Yes, the city was in a state of chaos, but what a time to be alive it must have been, especially as an artist. There is something incredibly powerful about being able to thrive in chaos for artists.
Now I might be biased here because I live in, and love (and hate) NYC, and have been immersed in the art scene here for so long. Which is perhaps why I think Basquiat’s work is prolific and visually up my alley, even though I don’t enjoy most art made in similar styles or aesthetics. Plus, his history of exhibiting at alternative lifestyle galleries instead of museums and established galleries, makes his story more relatable to me. It’s the same reason I see so much beauty in the work of the Impressionists - Folks had to renegade their shit because “the art world” was a gated shit show of rich dickheads. Oh hey, nothing has changed.
Legitimizing graffiti and street art as valid forms of artistic expression is no easy feat. To think that folks have literally cut out and salvaged Basquiat’s work in the form of entire sections of walls, to preserve them for galleries and museums, is a sign of disruption that I don’t think anybody could have foreseen. I almost kind of hate this, because I love the temporary nature of art; nothing should last forever. Everything should have a beginning and an end, which will ensure everything in between is priceless and unique.
His legacy as an artist who challenged the status quo and gave voice to marginalized communities is really important to acknowledge. He continues to inspire and inform artists and activists, and this is an example of how powerful art can be. Though deeply intertwined with the culture and history of New York City, his life and work is a reflection of more than just the city's vibrant and diverse communities, or its social and political challenges. He is one of those singular individuals in history that we can turn to when we ask the question of, “what can I achieve as an artist?”
Dropped our first on-chain piece of art for Iterative today! My journey from physical to digital art starts a brand new chapter today. Check it out and spread the word!