The first retrospective of the work of Jean-Michel Basquiat is the hottest show in the London winter season. The tragic life of Basquiat, genius street artist and now the most expensive American artist of all times is a biography of the archetypal tragic artist.
Established by his 20s, a close friend of Warhol and even faster than Andy at churning out works – how the dealers loved him for that – he was dead at 27 from an overdose of the very stuff that fuelled this manic output. The exhibition has plenty of photos and footage of Basquiat’s lifestyle, hanging out with Warhol but above all you should go for the boundless energy, raw primitive agony and dark genius of the actual works of art.
Until January 28th at the Barbican Art Gallery, London
www.barbican.org.ukInstallation view Barbican
Jean-Michel Basquiat, Untitled, 1982
Courtesy Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen, Rotterdam.
© The Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat. Licensed by Artestar
