Jean-Michel Basquiat had a short and prolific career before his tragic death at the young age of 27.  The Fondation Beyeler in Switzerland has put together a substantial retrospective in honor of his fiftieth birthday.  The exhibition will be the first of its size in Europe dedicated to the unique American artist.

Andy Warhol, Jean-Michel Basquiat, 1982

The exhibition includes more than 100 works by Basquiat, mapping out his progress throughout his brief and concentrated career.  The show is categorized in 4 different sections.  Basquiat’s early works, which began with his graffiti tags under the pseudonym SAMO©; Fun Gallery, with his artworks from the Fun Gallery in New York featuring his canvases distinctively attached to pieces of wood; Warhol/Basquiat, showing the results of the bond between the two artists and their collaboration; and late works, which show the final stage of Basquiat’s career, in which he was consumed with representing death.  Riding with Death, featured in his late works, has been considered as a symbol for Basquiat’s own imminent death.  His use of gold relates back to his palette including gold, silver and copper paint that he used early on.

Jean-Michel Basquiat, Riding with Death, 1988

Many museums, galleries, and private collections all over the United States and Europe have contributed to this important retrospective.  Basquiat at the Fondation Beyeler is on view from May 9^th to September 5^th, 2010.  It will travel to the Musée d’art Moderne de la ville de Paris on October 15, 2010, where it will be on view through January 30, 2011.

Basquiat, Fondation Beyeler, Basel, Switzerland

all images from Fondation Beyeler, http://www.beyeler.com