The coffee table essential: Warhol on Basquiat

Andy Warhol and Jean-Michel Basquiat’s complex relationship has captivated the art world for decades. 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 about his friendship with Basquiat, all played against the backdrop of 1980s downtown New York City. Now, with the release of this collection, Taschen reveals not only the emotional depth of the artists’ 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Foundation and Jean-Michel Basquiat’s estate, this book chronicles the duo’s relationship in hundreds of previously unpublished photographs of Basquiat along with a dynamic cast of characters from Madonna to Grace Jones, Keith Haring to Fela Kuti.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.

Buy your copy of Warhol on Basquiat from Taschen here.

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