Basquiat's Multimillion Dollar Portriat

(Jean-Michel Basquiat Untitled, 1982)

It always amazes me how much a deceased artist makes at auctions.

A self-portrait by Jean-Michel Basquiat sold for a worldwide auction record of $57.3 million at a Christie's contemporary art sale in May, according to the Associate Press.

Basquiat's self-portrait, Untitled, 1982, which portrays the young artist as a fiery demonic figure, was snapped up by Japanese online retailer, Yusaku Maezawa.

Prior to the auction, it had a $40 million pre-sale estimate.

Various artists have made millions after their death, but where does all that money go? The family? An estate that divides the money into a non-profit organization?

Right now, I do not have the visible funds to acquire any of Basquiat's original works. But I wonder how much a print of Untitled cost? For now, I guess I'll have to admire Basquiat's work from a distance.

Related Stories: 

Basquiat Stripped

Read more here: http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/entertainment/article76873007.html#storylink=cpy

2014 Top 10 Blog Posts for Arts of Cultures

It’s been quite a year for Arts of Cultures. 

The blog started out with stories about emerging artists in the multicultural art scene, with the likes of Maeva Fouche and Miki Turner. 

It then branched out and gave tips on how to build your art career. Whether you’re a painter, author, singer or a member of any part of the creative world, there was a tip just for you when Art Tip Tuesdays were posted. 

And as issues in American culture started to become the main topic of conversation on social media, digital news and everyday chit chat, Arts of Cultures peeled back the layers and shed light on controversial discussions. From Shonda Rimes being called an Angry Black Woman to ongoing talks of how social injustice continues to be a problem in America when it comes to people of color and the human race.

Behind the Canvas: Maeva Fouche

Maeve Fouche (right) & TC

Maeva Fouche’s journey to follow her passion of becoming an artist is truly an inspiration. 

Fouche is a Black American self-taught artist from New Jersey with Haitian decent and her work is bright, bold and  powerful. She’s inspired by the beauty of women, music, pop culture, Picasso, African culture and someone very special … her son.

I met Maeva Fouche earlier this year at the Harlem Fine Arts Show in New York City. It was her first time showing her work to the HFAS crowd and I managed to get Maeva Fouche to share her uplifting story for this Behind the Canvas special. 

I introduce to you, Maeva Fouche…

Building Your Art Career Pt. 5

I get it. You need to lock yourself away and create series of work for that next exhibition. Just be careful not to become a hermit in the process. It’s still important that you come up for a breather every once in a while.

Basquiat Stripped

(J-MB in Deep Thought, by DWats)

Take a moment to recall when you saw your first nude Black male whether in real life, in a painting, a photograph, sculpture, or any other medium. I’ve seen a number of unclothed men in private but never paid attention to them in the art form. That all changed when I had the opportunity to be up front and center with rare candid photos of Jean-Michel Basquiat, Reclining Nude, taken by Paige Powell, the ex-girlfriend of the Haitian-American artist. (see images nine paragraphs down)

The series of Basquiat's black & white 35mm, stark-naked portraits adorned the white walls of Suzanne Geiss Co. – an art gallery located on Grand Street in NYC. At first glance, my mouth dropped to the floor because Basquiat average body type was spread eagle from ceiling to floor, corner to corner. "Is that his scrotum? All-righty then," I thought to myself. I didn't go to the art gallery to judge and examine Basquiat's package, I was actually there for the panel discussion — Looking at the Black Male Nude in Art.

The panel was quite impressive.