"I'm not a real person. I'm a legend.” – Jean-Michel Basquiat
Lucie Kaas, in collaboration with Artestar and the Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat, introduces Basquiat into its curated collection of kokeshi dolls. In his short 27 years, Basquiat became a legend and one of the most acclaimed contemporary artists of his generation.
Born 22 December 1960, in Brooklyn, New York, Basquiat showed early-on the intelligence of his subtle yet overt way of communicating. Prior to his career taking off, he became known for producing and selling punk-inspired postcards and his political–poetical graffiti under the name of SAMO. In a short period of time, his art went from the streets to exhibiting in some of the most prestigious galleries around the world.
His works – a combination of oil paints, mixed media, poetry, and drawings – often integrated reflections and commentary on systematic discrimination. It was this theme and Basquiat’s own ethnicity that often lead to him confronting racist clichés and prejudices. He would be hailed as a prodigy and revolutionary while still being stereotyped as “primitive” or “a graffiti artist”, a title he rightfully rejected. Though emerging from the 1980s neo-expressionist movement, the themes explored through his artistry - inequality, racism and injustice - still find relevance today.
The Sketch.inc for Lucie Kaas collection is a celebration of icons and trailblazers. Jean-Michel Basquiat is widely considered one of the most important artists of the 20th century, and his inclusion makes a fitting addition as one of the most iconic and influential artists of his generation. The design of the doll by Becky Kemp, reflects a younger Basquiat, during his SAMO days before trailblazing through the global art scene.
See Basquiat here.
