Chronicling the rapid rise and fall of celebrated painter Jean-Michel Basquiat, Tamra Davis’ compelling documentary moves to a spirited soundtrack by Beastie Boys Mike D and Ad Rock.
Using early film footage that she shot of her artist friend as a point of departure, Davis interviews art-world players who knew the troubled Basquiat from the time he was tagging the streets and putting his first marks on canvas through his days collaborating with Andy Warhol and his untimely death at 27.
Visit the official movie website, read an interview with Tamra Davis, learn more about Jean-Michel Basquiat and his art at Street to Studio, watch a video interview with the curator of his current retrospective at the Foundation Beyeler in Switzerland, and if you’re in New York, catch the film at Film Forum.
Click through below for a gallery of images and video clips from the film.
Jean-Michel Basquiat: The Radiant Child, an Arthouse Films release, 2010. Photo courtesy of Benno Friedman / Corbis Outline.
Jean-Michel Basquiat: The Radiant Child, an Arthouse Films release, 2010. Photo courtesy of William Coupon / CORBIS.
Jean-Michel Basquiat: The Radiant Child, an Arthouse Films release, 2010. Photo courtesy of Lee Jaffe.
Jean-Michel Basquiat: The Radiant Child, an Arthouse Films release, 2010. Photo courtesy of Lee Jaffe.
Jean-Michel Basquiat: The Radiant Child, an Arthouse Films release, 2010. Photo courtesy of Lee Jaffe.
Jean-Michel Basquiat: The Radiant Child, an Arthouse Films release, 2010. Photo courtesy of Lee Jaffe.
Jean-Michel Basquiat: The Radiant Child, an Arthouse Films release, 2010. Photo courtesy of Lee Jaffe.