num_pages: 208
description: A thematic presentation of the groundbreaking and provocative art of Jean-Michel Basquiat this volume offers a new appreciation of his tragic but highly influential career. From his early years spray painting the walls of lower Manhattan to his first solo show in 1982 and his untimely death at the age of 27 in 1988 Jean-Michel Basquiat has become a symbol of the 1980s New York art scene. Now more than a quarter-century since his death this book considers Basquiats works in light of their transformative power. Exquisitely reproduced full-page color illustrations of his paintings cover the full thematic range of Basquiats work. From the autobiographical elements of Untitled (1981) and the powerful critique of racial justice that is Irony of a Negro Policeman to an exploration of black heroes Untitled (1982) and the tongue-in-cheek social commentary of A Panel of Experts Basquiats limitless palette of observation criticism and cultural references endows his art with lasting and provocative power. Author Dieter Buchhart explores how Basquiats success paved the way for an entire generation of black artists and how street culture has spread into popular culture. Texts by curators art dealers and cultural critics discuss the significance of Basquiats oeuvre and show how his approach and subject matter continue to influence artists around the world.
language: English
title: Jean-Michel Basquiat: Now's the Time
publisher: Prestel