Today we will be taking a deep dive to look at one of Jean-Michel Basquiat's iconic painting, Hollywood Africans (1983) A fiery Neo-expresionist masterpiece that roasts or banta Hollywood stereotypes.
gainst a blazing yellow backdrop, Basquiat paints himself, Toxic, and Rammellzee standing defiant, surrounded by scrawled text like "AFRICANS.," MAMAHELA," and a cheeky "EAT DICK." A slave ship labeled "Basquiat" looms, while references to Hattie McDaniel and the Cotton Club expose Hollywood's ugly history of tokenizing Black talent.
Take a look at the blazing golden yellow background lke he fake glamour of Tinseltown under harsh spotlights. At the center, three figures stand tall: a self portrait of Basquiat himself (rocking that signature crown motif he loved), flanked by his artist buddies Toxic and Rammellzee. They're posed like defiant warriors, arms crossed, staring down the viewer (or maybe the camera?).
This painting, housed at the Whitney Museum, is Basquiat at his rawest where he blends street art vibes with a gut punch critique of systemic racism in entertainment. It's as relevant now as it was in '83, th ongoing fights for representation in film, music and creativity in general within our society today.
rdecipherable words and phrases that explode everywhere like "GOLD," "AFRICANS," "MAMAHELA" (a nod to his mom's Haitian roots), and even "EAT DICK" for that classic Basquiat irreverence
You already know we never miss the fun facts: The original Still hangs in" the Whitney Museum, and it's part of a whole series where Basquiat tackled African American stereotypes head on. So If you haven't seen it you can find time to check it out !!
Interactive Challenge: Be Basquiat for a Day! Grab a pen, paper, or digital tool and create your own mini Hollywood Africans-inspired artwork! Scribble a word or phrase that calls out a stereotype or celebrates your identity, then layer it with bold colors or symbols (crowns, anyone?). Share your creation in the comments or post it with #ArtForEveryoneBasquiat !! !. And lets say you're not feeling artsy?! Tell us: What's one Hollywood trope you'd love to see Basquiat shred today?
Random question: Does Hollywood Africans still hit hard? What's your fave Basquiat piece, or who else is tackling race and media in art? Drop your thoughts, sketches, or inspo below. Keep the art vibe alive!
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