‘basquiat before basquiat’ new exhibit dedicated to basquiat’s pre-fame years

MCA Denver is currently running the archival exhibition ‘Basquiat Before Basquiat: East 12th Street, 1979-1980’ and it’s something you won’t want to miss if you live in the area. The exhibition focuses on the work Basquiat made during the year he spent living with friend Alexis Adler in a small, East Village apartment. The cache of archival records and works includes paintings, sculpture, works on paper, a notebook and “other ephemera” along with photography from the period, shot by Adler, to contextualize life in New York City during this time and how it shaped Basquiat as an artist.

Painted televison inside the apartment.

Photography by Alexis Adler

*Erin White is an Atlanta-based writer and AFROPUNK’s editorial and social media assistant. You can follow her on Tumblr or friend her on Facebook. Have a pitch or an inquiry? Shoot her an email at erin@afropunk.com.