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Tomorrow, the New York City Council and the estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat—the groundbreaking American artist who explored themes of race and politics through his work in the 1980s—will come together to unveil a street renaming in his honor.
From now on, the stretch of Great Jones Street between Bowery and Lafayette Streets in downtown Manhattan will be known as Jean-Michel Basquiat Way. The location is a meaningful one: the visionary Black modern artist lived and worked at 57 Great Jones Street from 1983 until his death in 1988, at just 27 years old, from a heroin overdose.
"The co-naming recognizes Jean-Michel Basquiat’s enduring legacy as a visionary Black artist who helped redefine modern art through his bold, expressive, and socially conscious work," reads an official press release. "The space [at 57 Great Jones Street] served as his home and studio during some of the most prolific years of his career, anchoring him in a neighborhood that was at the heart of New York’s creative energy in the 1980s."
Expect remarks from members of Basquiat's family, including his sister Lisane, City Council officials, cultural leaders and local community members at the unveiling, which is scheduled for 1pm in the afternoon.
The city has a long history of paying tribute to the artist-legend. A couple of years ago, for example, fans gathered at Green-Wood Cemetery, the site of Basquiat's burial, for a night full of art, poetry and music. An immersive exhibition on the subject also took over Chelsea in 2022, the same year that a new play about Basquiat and fellow icon Andy Warhol premiered on Broadway.
Clearly, the city is still fascinated by the character—and we totally understand the obsession.