Michael Dayton Hermann is focusing at Andy Warhol and Jean-Michel Basquiat’s friendship in a new book. Titled Warhol on Basquiat: The Iconic Relationship Told in Andy Warhol’s Words & Pictures, Hermann utilized corresponding entries from Warhol’s published diaries and more than 400 of his unseen photographs to create an intimate look at the two artists.
First meeting in 1982, the older pop artist referred to the art world’s neophyte as “the kid who used the name ‘Samo’ when he used to sit on the sidewalk in Greenwich Village and paint T-shirts, and I’d give him $10” in a diary entry. Warhol lived his life capturing the most personal moments with a 35mm camera, and Hermann was able to include one of a melancholic Basquiat in a hotel room. In a 1983 diary reflecting that photo, Warhol wrote, “Jean-Michel came by and said he was depressed and was going to kill himself and I laughed and said it was just because he hadn’t slept for four days.”
Their friendship eventually blossomed into an artistic collaboration, giving birth to pieces such as Ten Punching Bags and Olympic Rings. “They were very inspired by each other. Warhol early on really understood that Basquiat was a terrific artist,” Hermann said. He also noted that there was no evidence that the two were ever lovers, instead describing their relationship as “deeply caring and emotionally complex.”
The two remained friends until Warhol’s death in 1987, making a huge impact on Basquiat who passed away just a year later at the age of 27.
Warhol on Basquiat: The Iconic Relationship Told in Andy Warhol’s Words & Pictures will be available soon via Taschen for $60 USD.
The Estate of acclaimed hip hop producer and Delicious Vinyl co-founder, Matt Dike, alongside Phillips, will be selling a rare collection of artworks made by the late Jean-Michel Basquiat. Leading the forthcoming sale is Basquiat’s Self-Portrait painting alongside five standout pieces that were made during the early 1980s.
Dike’s first encounter with Basquiat was in the late 1970s at an NYU party when the artist went by his well-known pseudonym SAMO. Their friendship grew over the years with Dike eventually becoming Basquiat’s assistant in 1982 when the budding music producer was working for Gagosian LA at the time. It was during Basquiat’s LA residency when he created the Self-Portrait. That same artwork will available for purchase at Phillips’ upcoming auction in May.
“Self-Portrait firmly takes a prime position in the pantheon of self-portraits in Basquiat’s oeuvre, one that perhaps like none other is filled with self- reflection,” said Phillips in a statement.”Estimated at $9-12 million USD, Self-Portrait leads the group and is one of the greatest self-portraits by the artist to ever be offered at auction.”
The Basquiat works will be on view in Los Angeles from April 9-11. The auction will take place at the auction house’s New York location from May 3-15. Check out select works above and then head over to Phillips’ website to learn more.
Elsewhere in art, KAWS will soon launch a BFF Companion Plush in pink.
Phillips
450 Park Ave
New York, NY 10022
450 Park Ave
New York, NY 10022
No comments:
Post a Comment