The Podcast

What Do You See? / 2021
An analysis of "Tuxedo" by Jean-Michel Basquiat, this podcast opens up with my wife, Samaris Andrews, telling us what she sees when looking at the art. Following is a deeper analysis into what we see, accompanied by a brief telling of the art icon's life and his impact on modern pop culture.

I encourage you to gaze upon the work to the right of this text while listening.
Seen below are six of the original works before the silk screening process that ultimately created Tuxedo.
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Jean-Michel Basquiat, Untitled (Plaid), 1982, oil paintstick and ballpoint on paper, 19 ⅝ × 15 ½ inches (49.8 × 39.4 cm). Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, purchase with funds from Mrs. William A. Marsteller, The Norman and Rosita Winston Foundation, Inc. and the Drawing Committee
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Jean-Michel Basquiat, Untitled (Jackson), 1982, oil paintstick and ballpoint on paper, 19 ¼ × 15 ¼ inches (49 × 38.7 cm). Courtesy The Brant Foundation, Greenwich, CT
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Jean-Michel Basquiat, Untitled (Cheese Popcorn), 1982, oil paintstick and ballpoint on paper, 19 ¼ × 15 ¼ inches (49 × 38.7 cm). Courtesy The Brant Foundation, Greenwich, CT
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Jean-Michel Basquiat, Untitled (Mostly Old Ladies), 1982, oil paintstick and ballpoint on paper, 19 ⅝ × 15 ¼ inches (49.8 × 38.7 cm). Courtesy The Brant Foundation, Greenwich, CT
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Jean-Michel Basquiat, Untitled (Quality), 1982, oil paintstick and ballpoint on paper, 19 ½ × 15 ½ inches (49.5 × 39.4 cm). Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, purchase with funds from Mrs. William A. Marsteller, The Norman and Rosita Winston Foundation, Inc. and the Drawing Committee
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Jean-Michel Basquiat, Untitled (Olive Oil), 1982, oil paintstick and ballpoint on paper, 19 ¼ × 15 ⅜ inches (49 × 39 cm). Courtesy The Brant Foundation, Greenwich, CT
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Jean-Michel Basquiat, Tuxedo, 1983, silkscreen on canvas, edition of 10, 102 ¾ × 59 ¾ inches (261 × 151.8 cm). Photo: Rob McKeever

The Artist

Jean-Michelle Basquiat / 1960-1988
PictureJean-Michel Basquiat at Bruno Bischofberger Gallery, Zurich, 1982 Photo: Beth Phillips. Art © Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat. Licensed by Artestar, New York
Jean-Michel Basquiat, an American artist of Puerto Rican and Haitian descent, rose to success during the 1980s as part of the Neo-expressionism movement. Basquiat's art focused on dichotomies such as wealth versus poverty, integration versus segregation, and inner versus outer experience. He used social commentary in his paintings as a tool for introspection and for identifying with his experiences in the Black community of his time, as well as attacks on power structures and systems of racism. His visual poetics were acutely political and direct in their criticism of colonialism and support for class struggle. His works are normally vibrant with lots of intense eye-catching color that is layered throughout with texts and various sketching. But the piece we are going to explore is very different from that norm.

The Music

Beat Bop / 1983
Tuxedo was completed at virtually the same time in early 1983 that Basquiat produced the early rap record Beat Bop. Released on the label of the artist’s own Tartown Record Co., the long-playing album was made in collaboration with Fred Brathwaite, Toxic, A-One, Al Diaz, and Rammellzee. Basquiat’s cover art shared Tuxedo’s reversal of black-and-white imagery, further testifying to his fascination with the aesthetic look he had explored in that work. Please feel free to listen as you explore the rest of this site.

The Influence

Atlanta Artists Fabian "Occasional Superstar" Williams and Goldigold both have gained much inspiration from Basquiat. Williams using imagery and word play to call out power structures and systemic racism, and Goldigold using vibrant colors and the iconic three-pointed crown in every portrait to acknowledge the power in everyone he captures in his art. 
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A street mural of Bob Marley by Atlanta-based artist Fabian Williams is covered with a vinyl mask as part of the Covid-19 public awareness campaign Big Facts Small Acts.

The Culture

With Tuxedo, Basquiat brought his past as a graffiti artist to a new height. Sparking hip-hop culture of today to constantly reference his work by using the similar three pointed crown or his black and white sketching that can be seen on Converse, New Era, and Coach products today.
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Famed Actor, Michael B. Jordan modeling for the Coach x Basquiat Collection Photo: Micaiah Carter
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Popular Rap Artist, Megan Thee Stallion modeling for the Coach x Basquiat Collection Photo: Micaiah Carter
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Entertainment icon, Jennifer Lopez modeling for the Coach x Basquiat Collection Photo: Micaiah Carter
​Although controversial, his influence made its way to Tiffany & Company's new ad campaign featuring the quartet of Beyoncé, Jay-Z, a 128-carat diamond and a rarely seen Jean-Michel Basquiat painting that had recently been acquired by the jewelry brand’s new owner, LVMH — all in a sort of contemporary remake of “Breakfast at Tiffany’s”.
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Beyoncé, Jay-Z, and “Equals Pi” by Jean-Michel Basquiat in the Tiffany & Company fall 2021 campaign, titled “About Love.” Photo: Mason Poole