“WRITING THE FUTURE: BASQUIAT AND THE HIP-HOP GENERATION” AT MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS: BOSTON, US

“Writing the Future” traces the progression from street art into fine art that began to occur in 1980s New York with the emergence of Jean-Michel Basquiat. The work of Basquiat and his contemporaries broke down the boundaries dictated by race, background, and high vs. low art to shape hip-hop culture across the US and globally.

The exhibition features multi-media works by Basquiat, including drawings, paintings, films, and music, as well as his collaborative works, which were produced alongside influential artists such as Keith Haring, Lee Quiñones, ERO, and Lady Pink. These artists shaped the world of art and design that we know today, subverting traditional artistic practices using methods such as wildstyle lettering and freestyle sampling. One of the most notable pieces on display is Hollywood Africans, which depicts the artists Toxic and Rammellzee, whom Basquiat collaborated with at the time.

This is the first exhibition to celebrate Basquiat’s important connection to hip-hop culture.