Synopsis
The first biography in more than a quarter century―based on more than 100 interviews―adds significant new information to the story both of Jean-Michel Basquiat's life and to the extraordinary journey of his art.
In a resurrection few could have predicted, Jean-Michel Basquiat joined Picasso, Modigliani, and Munch when one of his paintings sold for more than $100 million. Nearly four decades after his untimely death at 27 years of age, Basquiat is one of the most recognizable artists in the world, his work not just headlining major museum and private collections but his image on T-shirts, sneakers, tattoos, and accessories from Rio to Singapore.
Drawing on more than 100 interviews―including family members, friends, lovers, gallery owners, collectors, musicians, academics, and artists―art-world insider Doug Woodham offers a revealing account of Basquiat's life, work, and enduring legacy. He delves into Basquiat’s rich and complex family background, his overlapping identities, and the dramatic arc of his posthumous fall and rise―an ascent that has reshaped the art-world itself. This behind-the-scenes narrative pulls back the curtain on how the art world selects its icons and cements their place in history.
The first substantive biography in more than a quarter century, Jean-Michel Basquiat: The Making of an Icon examines key aspects of the artist's life―his childhood trauma, sexuality, cultural identities, and struggles with addiction―topics long downplayed in the museum and art world due to pressure from his estate. Woodham also uncovers the previously untold story of how a few against-the-grain speculators and gallerists―plus his uniquely skilled father―all contributed to bringing what Basquiat accomplished back to the center of the conversation nearly a decade after his death, and in the process helped to birth a new era in contemporary art.
60 color illustrations"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
About the Author
Doug Woodham is the managing partner of Art Fiduciary Advisors, an NY-based firm focused on providing advice on the financial aspects of owning and selling fine art. He most recently served as president of the Americas for Christie's and is the author of Art Collecting Today: Market Insights for Everyone Passionate about Art. He lives in New York with his wife and family.
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.
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Jean-Michel Basquiat: The Making of an Icon
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Jean-Michel Basquiat: The Making of an Icon
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Hardcover. Condition: new. Hardcover. Shortly after his untimely death in 1988, Jean-Michel Basquiat's meteoric art-world ascent was in retreat. Nearly four decades later, the artist's paintings are amongst the world's most recognizable and valuable. Based on over 100 interviews, Jean-Michel Basquiat: The Making of an Icon finally fills in long-missing chapters from the life and work of an artist who helped reframe contemporary art. When Jean-Michel Basquiat died in 1988 at the age of twenty-seven, major critics called his work a flash in the pan and the meteoric rise in the prices of his paintings started to fall back. Almost thirty years later Basquiat joined Picasso, Modigliani and Munch when one of his paintings sold for over $100 million. Nearly four decades after his untimely death, he remains one of the most recognizable artists in the world - his work not only headlines major museum exhibitions and private collections but also appears on T-shirts, sneakers, tattoos and accessories from Rio to Singapore. What happened? For the first substantive biography in over twenty-five years, art world insider Doug Woodham conducted more than 100 interviews - with family members, friends, lovers, gallery owners, collectors, musicians, academics and other artists - to weave a thoughtful and revealing account of Basquiat's life, work and legacy. Woodham's account takes readers from the artist's rich and complex family background through to his commercial and critical resurrection - an ascent that has played a role in reshaping the art-world. In the process, he has also crafted a unique account of how the twenty-first century art world selects its icons and cements their place in history. Jean-Michel Basquiat: The Making of an Icon examines key aspects of the artist's life such as his childhood trauma, sexuality, cultural identities and struggles with addiction - topics long downplayed in the museum and art world, arguably due to the controlling role played by his estate. Simultaneously Woodham uncovers the previously untold story of how a few against-the-grain speculators and gallerists - plus his deftly skilled and strategic father, the band U2 and a bestselling children's book - all contributed to bringing what Basquiat accomplished back to the centre of the conversation and in the process helped to birth a new era in contemporary art. The first biography in more than a quarter century--based on more than 100 interviews--adds significant new information to the story both of Jean-Michel Basquiat's life and to the extraordinary journey of his art. Shipping may be from multiple locations in the US or from the UK, depending on stock availability. Seller Inventory # 9780500030691