Basquiat by Makos

Basquiat was a very interesting, soft-spoken, young African-American artist. The picture
that I have of Basquiat holding the globe: it’s no accidet that he’s holding Africa in the
picture because in many ways, he felt like he was the token black artist. He understood that
he was the black artist that everybody wanted but he wasn’t sure if they wanted him or his
work.

Makos was also an important influence on Andy Warhol in the 1970s and 1980s and he
documented the eclectic world surrounding the “Factory”, and the vibrant New York social
scene of that era, becoming a prominent figure in the New York downtown art scene where
he befriended and created raw, indelible portraits of the likes of Roy Lichtenstein, Salvador
Dalí, Halston, Patti Smith, and Mick Jagger. With an incredible eye for emerging artists,
Makos is responsible for introducing the work of Jean-Michel Basquiat and Keith Haring to
Warhol. Makos and his insightful recollections have been featured in scores of exhibitions,
documentaries, and publications, including the recent critically acclaimed Netflix
documentary “The Warhol Diaries” from producer Ryan Murphy.

Press Release