Currently being housed at the Clark Atlanta University Art Museum, “Our Friend, Jean” is a an art exhibition highlighting some of early works of Jean-Michel Basquiat. I had the pleasure of seeing these works up close and personal this past Sunday. I was excited to learn that I would not only be able to see his art, but what made it even more special, is that it would be at the art museum of my Alma Mater. The exhibit is in conjunction with The Bishop Gallery in Brooklyn, NY. Their goal is to provide emerging and established artists with an intimate space to connect with their audience and the expanding Brooklyn art scene.
The artworks on display, are all on loan from people who actually knew Jean-Michel. The co-curator of the exhibit Alexis Adler, is an old roommate, friend and ex-lover of Basquiat. She has toured his works throughout the U.S. and abroad. After a showing in Baltimore she began to realize the need for his works to be seen in communities that look like him. She stated “Black communities as well as institutions of color seldom have access to original works by Basquiat and other prominent artist in general, and The Bishop Gallery is adamant about changing that status quo.”
The Exhibit is currently on a 6-Stop HBCU tour. It includes 20+ works of the late artist. There is mix of clothing items, portraits, collages, paintings, and writings. The tour is the first time that his art will be donning the galleries of HBCU campuses. The aim is to “give the next generation of black artists and creatives unprecedented access to America’s most influential artist.”
The stops have already included Howard and Hampton. Once it leaves Clark Atlanta on November 4th, it will head to Tennessee State, Dillard, and finish up at Texas Southern. You can see the artwork at The Bishop Gallery in New York through the end of January.