Basquiat Our Patron Saint
In 2011, we rented an apartment (not a condo; everyone wants to make it a condo) in New Orleans. On the walls lived Jean-Michel Basquiat. For a while, the building had been abandoned and inhabitants used the walls for murals. The developer who bought the dilapidated building leaned into the graffiti and made Basquiat our patron saint of the Rice Mill Loft.
On the first floor was Basquiat’s portrait. I did not know him before we moved into the loft. This was before 2017, when Basquiat’s work became the most expensive US-produced painting ever sold. $110.5 million. Back then, he was just Basquiat, our patron saint. Basquiat was 21 when he painted this record-breaking painting. He died at 27.
On our second floor in an empty lobby sat a collection of eccentric chairs. Basquiat’s work adorned a long wall, its meaning just as inexplicable as the chairs. The painting was full of the written word. Recently, I asked the boys what they remembered about the Rice Mill Loft. They remembered the chairs. I didn’t prod them on Basquiat.
Basquiat, the street artist who became the darling of the Sotheby’s set. He had something to say, and he said it exactly the way he wanted to.
(The almost end of my Black History Month sharing of famous Black Americans who have intersected with my life.)
2025 Black History Month, Black History Month, Famous Black Americans, Jean-Michel Basquiat
Joe Hawes
This short post made me want more–a lot more about Basquiat. I am hoping t g at you will give us more sloon
Ellen Morris Prewitt
His life was so brief, his work quite unique. I got used to it at the Rice Mill, where it was reproduced on large plywood canvasses (over 10 feet) adhered to the wall. Our apartment lease had a “don’t mess with the graffiti clause.” 🙂 (More about me than him….)
Susan Marquez
Go to the third floor of the Intercontinental hotel on Saint Charles in New Orleans — when the elevator door opens there is a huge Basquiat installation. It’s pretty mind blowing.
Ellen Morris Prewitt
Ah, good to know! I think the Intercontinental developer is the same guy who developed the Rice Mill, Sean Cummings. I’m not sure Sean still owns the Rice Mills (we’ve been gone for a while now.) But we can walk to St. Charles, so we’ll check it out.
Ellen Morris Prewitt
(My poor computer–I may have already posted this.) The Intercontinental is the same developer as the Rice Mill, Sean Cummings. I’m not sure he still owns the Rice Mill–we’ve been gone for a while. But that’s good to know. We can walk to St. Charles, so I’ll go check it out!