ANDY WARHOL & JEAN-MICHEL BASQUIAT

The instantly recognizable iconographies of Andy Warhol and Jean-Michel Basquiat showcased in an illustrated dual biography.

The two artists’ 1980s collaboration when they were at largely different stages of their professional lives generated more than 100 pieces that represent an impactful relationship for both, informed by shared creativity yet divergent lives. This translated import from Spain contextualizes their meeting in broad strokes. The book focuses largely on the East Village despite Basquiat’s Brooklyn origins and the citywide ubiquity of his tag, SAMO. The 1980s setting is evoked by assorted trivia about things like the Walkman, Chernobyl, and Madonna. Years before their official introduction, 18-year-old Basquiat approached the already-famous senior artist before being physically turned away by an associate of Warhol’s, an anecdote that highlights the power imbalance embedded in their relationship that is not explicitly explored in this visually attractive but ultimately superficial work. While the pair are depicted reacting to the lukewarm reception of their collaboration by the press, as well as to matters of race, wealth, and exploitation in the art world, Warhol’s stature at the time and the posthumous attention to Basquiat’s career and life underpin this book’s stylized focus on the two but are insufficiently addressed. Still, this remains an adequate introduction to its subjects despite lacking source notes and being at its best when presenting individual pieces of art, not the individuals themselves.

A serviceable introduction that can’t stand on its own.