Basquiat, the Blue Ribbon Paintings, and the Art of Reproduction

Conventional narratives around Jean-Michel Basquiat (American, 1960–1988) tend to emphasize his meteoric rise as a self-taught prodigy, often placing him outside the art historical canon rather than in dialogue with postmodern ideas and artistic networks. In contrast, this exhibition reframes Basquiat’s legacy by emphasizing his deep engagement with ideas around appropriation, identity, and reproduction.