Barbican's Basquiat Exhibition Examines Artist's Cultural Context and Legacy

From 21 September to 28 January, the Barbican Art Gallery in London presented 'Basquiat: Boom for Real,' marking the first significant exhibition of Jean-Michel Basquiat in the UK. The display, divided into 14 sections, showcased over 100 pieces of art and archival documents, illustrating his evolution from a graffiti artist to an art icon. Notable pieces included 'Jack Johnson' (1982), 'Hollywood Africans' (1983), and 'Tuxedo' (1983). The exhibition also emphasized his partnerships with figures like Andy Warhol, Fab 5 Freddy, Keith Haring, and Charlie Parker. Nonetheless, a December 2017 review in ArtReview criticized the exhibition for overlooking the commercial and racial dynamics that shaped Basquiat's career. Since his passing in 1988, he has been the subject of retrospectives and record-setting auction events.