Episode notes
“All of the great artists are there for a reason: because they rebelled in some way. They created a visual vocabulary that felt fresh and new, which excited people. So, the great artists are not built on sort of anthills of sand. They're built on things of substance and of meaning. Though this is not a sufficient condition to become an icon, it's a necessary but not sufficient condition. I think you have to have an interesting and vivid personality or personal narrative that makes you interesting for people to talk about and want to learn about. I think you also have to have a support network of galleries, curators, and collectors who are excited about your work and want to push it forward, not wanting it to be forgotten. Basquiat's visual vocabulary is distinctive and stands out relative to what was being done in the 1980s. That ...
Keywords
Jean-Michel Basquiat, Doug Woodham, Christie's, art market, contemporary art, identity, gifted child, Brooklyn, trauma, creativity, auction houses, collectors, Andy Warhol, Madonna, Peter Brant, Jose Mugrabi, Rico Navarra, neo-expressionism, pop cult