Jean-Michel Basquiat was a Black visionary who rose rapidly in the art world in the early 1980s with his signature works incorporating graffiti elements and depictions of the human head. The naming of this street after the artist was described in the City Council press release as a tribute to the “visionary Black artist who redefined modern art with his bold, expressive, and socially conscious work.”
From Warhol to Jolie: A Street’s Art History
For five years before his death, Basquiat lived and worked in a loft at 57 Great Jones Street, rented from his artist friend Andy Warhol. During this period, the artist produced an estimated 2,000 drawings and 1,000 paintings. Today, the building at 57 Great Jones Street—purchased in 2023 by actress Angelina Jolie—hosts the Eat Offbeat Café, which employs immigrant and refugee chefs, and Atelier Jolie, which organizes artist residencies.
Rather than fully replacing the old street name, the city added “Jean-Michel Basquiat Way” as a third sign at the intersection of Bowery and Great Jones; this is known as “co-naming.” City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams emphasized that throughout his career, Basquiat inspired critical discussions on topics such as “power, race, and social justice.”
Basquiat’s family and his nephew Raymond Joseph Basquiat were present at the ceremony and expressed their joy at seeing the artist’s legacy honored in this way. The fact that his works have sold for up to $110.5 million after his death demonstrates the power of his language, which challenged entrenched notions of high and low art, race, and class.
This means Basquiat’s name will continue to keep his legacy and social critique alive in a place that witnessed both his life and his art. Don’t you think this street is one of New York’s most meaningful cultural routes?
Exhibition Details
Jean-Michel Basquiat Way
Intersection of Bowery & Great Jones Street, New York
Co-naming ceremony: Honoring the artist’s studio at 57 Great Jones Street
