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Jean-Michel Basquiat

Photography

Remarkable ’80s-Era Photos of Iconic NYC Artists

By Jason Bailey on

Jeannette Montgomery Barron’s new photo book SCENE is a must-have for aficionados of the ‘80s New York art scene — for which Barron was something of an unofficial “yearbook photographer,” capturing images of legends like Cindy Sherman, Kenny Scharf, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Jenny Holzer, Francesco Clemente, David Salle, Robert Mapplethorpe, Eric Fischl, and Keith Haring during their starving-artist days. The book launches with an event tonight at BookMarc; the tie-in exhibit, NYC c. 1985, opens tomorrow at Chelsea’s ClampArt. But if you’re not in Gotham, Flavorwire’s got you covered — we were lucky enough to get our hands on several gorgeous images from SCENE. … Read More

Art

New Basquiat Exhibition Reveals the Master Behind the Hype

By Benjamin Sutton on

In the nearly 25 years since his death, Jean-Michel Basquiat has not ceased to grow in significance. More often than not, that popularity has thrived off a cycle of hype bolstered on the one hand by a bevy of eager collectors and on the other by the allure of his tragically short biography. “[There's] no underestimating the popular appeal of this tragic young African-American artist who embodied the idea of the charismatic supernova, burning bright and fast, leaving behind a prolific body of work that was taken up immediately in his own time, and which continued to escalate in stature and value as it has circulated in the international art market,” says Louise Neri, a director at Chelsea’s Gagosian Gallery. … Read More

New York

10 New York Bars Where You Can Contemplate Great Art While You Imbibe

By Lori Zimmer on

New Yorkers are familiar with the whole subculture of people who just got to art openings for the free wine, but have you ever thought about going to a bar for the free art? There are tons of places around the city to imbibe while taking a gander at a private art collection. From dives to places with fancy $20 cocktails, you can get an eyeful of everything from street art to Hirsts to 16th-century old masters, all while getting your drink on. Here are a few of our faves. … Read More

Art

From Warhol to Miró: The Top-Selling Artists of 2012

By Paul Laster on

Andy Warhol is still a superstar; Pablo Picasso remains a household name; and Jean-Michel Basquiat will forever be a creative rebel without a cause. Artnet.com, the online art site whose price database includes the auction results from more than 1,400 auction houses worldwide, just released a list of the world’s top-selling artists of 2012, with both surprising and anticipated statistics.

We analyzed the list to discover that Warhol was making amazing 3-D paintings back in 1962; Francis Bacon’s twisted portraits of his suicidal lover are his most coveted works; and rock legend Eric Clapton is a major art collector who’s reaping big returns on his past purchases. We also learned that 1981 — when he was still just 20 years old — was bad-boy Basquiat’s best year and that works from a handful of obscure Chinese painters are now selling for millions. Click through to see images of the year’s top-tiered works and read about who sold what and for how much. … Read More

Art

Fascinating Video Footage of Famous Artists at Work

By Marina Galperina on

Art in action! Sometimes, strolling through museums and galleries, one can disassociate the works from the artist, reducing them to pleasing pretty independent objects strung to walls, not the product of someone’s expression, labor, and intent. For that reason, please refer to our sparsely annotated, mini-clip-playlist of artists at work on their art. Watch Picasso delight himself by drawings flowers. See Yayoi Kusama scribble madly away. Behold Basquiat spray painting wisdom on the walls of downtown New York. Remind yourself that this all did not just come to be, but spilled, splattered, and flowed out of our visual art icons — and it didn’t always come easy. … Read More

Art

15 Portraits of Famous Musicians by Famous Artists and Photographers

By Marina Galperina on

One of the benefits of being a famous, successful, admired musician — besides being famous, successful, and admired — is having your portrait made by an artist of stature. Wouldn’t you like to see how you translate into an iconic Andy Warhol or be dotingly dotted into a Chuck Close original? Well, too bad. You’re not Blondie or Philip Glass. From Basquiat’s tribute to Charlie Parker to Roger Ballen’s supreme badassiffication of Die Antwoord, here’s a slideshow of famous musicians as painted, shot, sculpted, abstracted, and silkscreened by famous artists and photographers. … Read More

Pop Culture

10 Great Songs About Famous Visual Artists

By Marina Galperina on

Even reigning glam aliens have idols. Even top hip hop impresarios obsess over that one particular painting. There is no shortage of guitar strumming, rapping, and singing about art at large, but we’re keen on odes and tributes to specific heroes of art history. From David Bowie’s serenade to “Andy Warhol” to the Modern Lovers’ investigations into “Pablo Picasso” and why he “never got called an asshole,” here are a few notable tracks inspired by famous visual artists. Did we miss your favorite? Drop us a comment. … Read More

News

The Morning’s Top 5 Pop Culture Stories

By Caroline Stanley on

1. “I think there are some ages, like the one we’re living in, when the game is kind of rigged towards products that contain music – sort of like those cheap drinks you get in a bad supermarket where it says, ‘Contains 10% juice.’” – Record Store Day 2012 ambassador Iggy Pop reflects… Read More

Art

10 Famous Artists' Fascinating Alter-Egos

By Marina Galperina on

Attention and behold: Marcel Duchamp… as a lady! Or, not exactly. This is more than just a giddy Surrealist in a pretty hat and a little rouge. This is Rrose Sélavy, Duchamp’s alter-ego with her own look, her own mind, even her own body of work. Sometimes artists create more than paintings and sculptures — they create people. They form whole other identities, personas. Let’s meet classic alter-egos from art history and contemporary performance practice. Be warned: Gender-bending, age-regression, metamorphosing, and dimension-crossing may occur. … Read More

Art

Required Viewing: Essential Documentaries About Famous Artists

By Marina Galperina on

We’re happy if our previous roundup of feature films about artists inspired or rejuvenated any of your artistic or bohemian impulses. That said, pull up a chair. Let’s get real. Here you will find some of our favorite documentaries about artists, many of them current and some even freshly made. Dig out the heart of Louise Bourgeois’ gigantic spiders. Go behind Pablo Picasso’s brushstrokes. Wonder eternally if Banksy’s fooling you. Rebels, superstars, activists, eccentrics, con artists — they’re all here and they’re ready to tell you their story. … Read More