Jean-Michel Basquiat

Published on the occasion of the exhibition, Jean-Michel Basquiat: Art and Objecthood, at Nahmad Contemporary, this book will illuminate the role of found objects and unconventional materials in the Jean-Michel Basquiat s oeuvre. Basquiat, whose artistic practice has profoundly impacted audiences on an international scale, used objects and media from his environs to proliferate messages of social justice and change. Featuring a breadth of works that the artist made using unconventional painted supports and found-object sculptures, this publication will provide an innovative, in-depth look into the artist s sculptural practice. In addition to painting and drawing on items within his domestic spaces refrigerators, chairs, and cabinets Basquiat also left his mark on items he encountered on the street discarded windows and doors, mirrors, wood boards, and subway tiles. The publication will present new scholarship by leading Basquiat academics and art historians that will explore Basquiat s use of found objects and materials and their role in addressing issues of social inequality and the politics of race in the United States.  Jean-Michel Basquiat (1960 1988) is known for his raw gestural style of painting. He was one of the first African American artists to reach international praise, and is celebrated for a prolific, albeit short artistic career. His distinct style is characterized by a fusion of text, symbols, and imagery that addressed social, political, and racial issues in the United States.