Exhibit: Now's the Time at AGO!

Jean-Michel Basquiat: Now's the Time Exhibition Review

For my birthday almost two weeks ago, I decided to finally visit Jean-Michel Basquiat: Now's the Time exhibit at the AGO. It was so amazing, with so many art pieces to see, that I will be returning for a second (and probably third and fourth) visit very soon.

Jean-Michel Basquiat is one of the most acclaimed artists of our time. Born in Brooklyn, New York in 1960, Bastquiat was only 27 years old and has only been painting professionally for seven years, when he died of a drug overdose; just a year and a half after his good friend and collaborator, Andy Warhol. Now 27 years later, his work that often portrays issues of racism, identity, and social tension, is just as relevant today as it was then.

Untitled, 1981

Exhibition Poster, 1985

I have always been a fan of Basquiat, and enjoyed his bright splashes of colour and how his art can seem both crude and complex at the same time. I love that Bastquiat also incorporated found objects from New York's streets like wood frames and metal, and how he paid homage to other ground breaking artists in his own work.

Florida 1984 by Jean-Michel Basquiat and Andy Warhol

Horn Players, 1983

Natchez, 1985

The many pictures of Basquiat's work in books and magazines don't do the art justice and seeing these larger-than-life pieces, is almost a little overwhelming. This exhibit is very big and with so many powerful images to see, it's quite staggering. I left the exhibition both inspired and invigorated and like I stated before, I really must visit again (and again). Jean-Michel Basquiat: Now's the Time is running until May 10, 2015.

Magazine and Postcards, both free and paid for

Enjoying a day of #art to celebrate my birthday @agotoronto! #basquaitago #crowningheroes #culture #toronto

A photo posted by Melanie.Ps (@thepurplescarf) on Mar 4, 2015 at 12:21pm P

P.s!: There is a variety of events, talks, and film screenings in association with Jean-Michel Bastquiat exhibit. Also on weekend afternoons until May 2, there will be beatboxing and spoken word performances from the UNITY programs.

P.s,

Melanie!