Warhol on Basquiat: The Iconic Relationship Told in Andy Warhol’s Words and Pictures

by Michael Dayton Hermann (Editor), The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts (Editor)

Andy Warhol and Jean-Michel Basquiat’s complex relationship captivated the art world then and now. At a time when Warhol was already world famous and the elder statesman of New York cool, Basquiat was a downtown talent rising rapidly from the graffiti scene. Together, they forged an electrifying personal and professional partnership. As a prolific documentarian of his own world, Warhol extensively photographed and wrote of his friendship with Basquiat, all played against the backdrop of 1980s downtown New York City. It reveals not only the emotional depth of their relationship but also its ambiguities, extremities, and complexities. Produced in collaboration with The Andy Warhol Foundation and Jean-Michel Basquiat’s estate, this book chronicles the duo’s relationship in hundreds of previously unpublished photographs of Basquiat along with a dynamic cast of characters from Madonna to Grace Jones, Keith Haring to Fela Kuti. The shots are accompanied by entries from the legendary Andy Warhol Diaries, selected collaborative artworks, and extensive ephemera. Touching, intimate, and occasionally sardonic, Warhol on Basquiat is a voyeuristic glimpse into the lives of two of modern art’s brightest stars.

Genres: Art, Nonfiction, Art Design, Photography

312 pages, Hardcover

Published May 24, 2019

Reviews

[Gabriela]

Simple & straightforward notes but a fantastic duo!

[Rene Schlegel]

I bought this book basically for the photographs.
I wondered about the photographic output of Andy Warhol not just because he not only had a camera with him all the time but dangling around his neck at the ready.
Turned out that the combination of the photos with Mr. Warhol's entries in his diary makes this very well-edited tome a delight and provides insight into a part of New York's explosive artistic scene of the '80s. Something I can relate to well since I lived there in the middle of that very decade.
For the interested reader: It is helpful to familiarize oneself a bit, before reading this book, with the works of both Warhol and especially with Basquiat.
Mr. Warhol’s texts are simple, straight forward, observational and non-judgemental and complement the photos and art in an ideal way.
Warhols photos, from the contact sheets to the more prominent pictures in the book, range from blurry snapshots to stunning documents of key moments. My personal highlights are the shots showing Andy and Jean Michel boxing amongst many other fascinating takes.
Taschen and Mr. Dayton did a splendid and detailed job to put this all together in a captivating and unique way. Highly recommended.

[kanisha]

I really enjoyed reading this book. I would recommend becoming familiar with both Warhol and Basquiat's art and lives in order to really grasp the full picture of Warhol's diary entries. Andy's words really made me think of Basquiat in ways that I never had before. The cover of the book is vibrant and will make a great coffee table book for guests to look through when they visit.

[Kalvinista]

Interesantísima forma de mostrar la relación de Warhol y Basquiat. Realmente trabajado el uso de fotografía. Es un libro estupendamente melancólico y sincero

[em]

Une approche super intéressante avec des photos perso

[Louise Faure]

incroyable

[Ana]

Wonderful book. I had a feeling that I lived in that period, together with the characters. It felt like time travel