ARTISTS
Banksy x Basquiat: An Exhibition
In Chelsea , a new exhibition spotlights Banksy and Basquiat鈥檚 devotion to graffiti.
Guy Hepner is pleased to present Banksy x Basquiat, an exhibition featuring paintings and prints by both artists on view beginning Thursday 12 January, 2023 from 6-8pm EST. For the first time, works by both artists will be displayed with a focus on how both illustrious artists have contributed to the popularization and permeation of graffiti into both fine art circles and commercial culture.
In addition to exploring the themes that inspired both artists鈥� output, the show illuminates how racism and inequality are still issues rearing their ugly heads. While existing in different eras and geographical locations, Banksy and Basquiat both had a unique ability to experiment with painting techniques, embracing a spirit of DIY experimentation eventually inventing their own unique trailblazing styles. Forged from the depths of the streets, neither artist was conventionally considered to exist within fine art circles but through the democratization of art more and more people became aware of their genius and continuing contributions.
Basquiat suffered mental health issues and was homeless but somehow managed to overcome many hurdles to establish himself as a key part of the New York art scene that would help to put American art at the top of the international art world for a period during the 20th century. Similarly, Banksy鈥檚 survival method of anonymity has cantilevered his wry contempt for authority into an ever evolving, international graffiti art movement. A line can be drawn from when a 19-year-old Jean-Michel Basquiat was running around downtown Manhattan and street art was thought of as vandalism with the beginning of social commentary, to Banksy.
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In Chelsea , a new exhibition spotlights Banksy and Basquiat鈥檚 devotion to graffiti.
Guy Hepner is pleased to present Banksy x Basquiat, an exhibition featuring paintings and prints by both artists on view beginning Thursday 12 January, 2023 from 6-8pm EST. For the first time, works by both artists will be displayed with a focus on how both illustrious artists have contributed to the popularization and permeation of graffiti into both fine art circles and commercial culture.
In addition to exploring the themes that inspired both artists鈥� output, the show illuminates how racism and inequality are still issues rearing their ugly heads. While existing in different eras and geographical locations, Banksy and Basquiat both had a unique ability to experiment with painting techniques, embracing a spirit of DIY experimentation eventually inventing their own unique trailblazing styles. Forged from the depths of the streets, neither artist was conventionally considered to exist within fine art circles but through the democratization of art more and more people became aware of their genius and continuing contributions.
Basquiat suffered mental health issues and was homeless but somehow managed to overcome many hurdles to establish himself as a key part of the New York art scene that would help to put American art at the top of the international art world for a period during the 20th century. Similarly, Banksy鈥檚 survival method of anonymity has cantilevered his wry contempt for authority into an ever evolving, international graffiti art movement. A line can be drawn from when a 19-year-old Jean-Michel Basquiat was running around downtown Manhattan and street art was thought of as vandalism with the beginning of social commentary, to Banksy.
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