Basquiat: A Quick Killing in Art

I really appreciated “Basquiat- A Quick Killing in Art” for its fascinating journey behind the scene of the artist’s life. The author wrote through the eyes of those who were around Jean-Michel Basquiat during his life time.Phoebe Hoban’s thoroughly researched and detailed book takes us through the colourful and sometimes poignant many sides of Basquiat’s life such as through his friends, the art dealers, his romantic interests, his conquests, his temperament and his struggles with "sharks" and drugs. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who loves Basquiat, his art or wants to know more about his intense, frenetic and captivating energy that led to one of the world’s most talked about contemporary artists.

Fascinating snapshot of a mercurial talent and the insanity of the 80's art market centred in NYC, couldn't put it down. Lots of anecdotes and quotations from those who were there from gallery owners , fellow artists , dealers and club kids. Will read it again at some point I'm sure.

Such a great book about a genius who died too young. Great book for fans of the artist.

Great book

Full marks to Phoebe Hoban for the amount of research and the number of people she interviewed for this book. I’m sure there can’t be a single person who crossed Basquiat’s path who doesn’t get at least a mention. Plenty of name-dropping for those who enjoy that sort of thing, for sure. And there’s hardly a drug deal that doesn’t get a mention either. My main impression of Basquiat is that he took drugs – not that he was an artist. Although his so-called talent is surely a matter of controversy. Hoban doesn’t talk much about the art at all, but that’s ok. I’m sure other writers explore that aspect of Basquiat’s brief and wasted life in great detail in other books, although some illustrations here would have been helpful. Hoban is obviously more interested in the social scene, and the art world in general, and that’s fine too. But my, it does get tedious. I really couldn’t work up any enthusiasm for these vacuous and drug-fuelled lives, for these greedy art dealers, for these unhappy fame obsessed people. What a sad and empty place 1980s New York was. And what a waste of space Basquiat was. I could find no redeeming features in him at all. If he had any talent – and I rather doubt that in spite of the astronomical prices his works command – he was determined to waste it. And if he had any finer feelings, he was equally determined not to let them shine through. I found this book really really depressing. Hoban seems to admire many of the people she writes about; there’s a certain element of hagiography in her writing for sure, but for me the whole scene seemed just so sad. However, for what it is, the book is wide-ranging and informative and I learnt a lot.

Hoban delivers a moving though somewhat detatched account of the black genius who took the lilly-white art world by storm, simultaneously casting light and despair on the obsessively overblown art markets of the 1980's which catapulted Basquiat to overnight fame. Hoban, though seemingly not emotionally attached to his work, provides a clearer and more objective illustration of Basaquiats fragmented existence and his deterioration into excess than most.

The books are supposed to be new this book came with a half ripped off sticker on the front cover as I was buying this for a gift it was a little bit disappointing to have to remove a sticker from the front of a book that shouldn't have been there

Expose of Basquiat's charisma and meteoric success, in relation to New York in the 80's, and other artists of that era.

I didn’t know much about basquiat before the book, prior to reading this book other than the rapper JAY-Z mentioning him in his lyrics, as well as some eye catching images I had come across.This book did an amazing job painting the artists life as well as the times in which he existed in, I could not put this book down. This was a great read thank you.

I had never heard of basquait before I admit (before reading this book). After I finished reading I found myself becoming a raving fan of his "art". I use the commas because to me he lacks the art aspect and his art is purchased because of the man behind the paintings(Which I learned from Phoebe's book). He is more of a pioneer of street art, having made it so much more commercially available to the public; but he is the street in essence. Phoebe painstakingly researched Basquait through real life relatives and close friends, it almost felt as if she was becoming obsessed with him herself; perhaps that is merely me noticing the devotion to the writing material...If you are a fan of art and expressionism you will find a kindred spirit in Basquait. Pheobe managed to bring that feeling of connection through her book unlike any other biography that I have read.

I really enjoyed reading this. I know something about Basquiat from Schnabel's movie and some PBS shows. I've seen Basquiat's work in person at the NYC Gagosian Basquiat show last year. This book really helped to bring it all into perspective. The decetency of the era, the money spent and wasted, the loneliness of a artist who did attain his goal of becoming famous only to be swallowed up by the weight of it all. Many in his presence felt him to be a genius. Many used him as a meal-ticket. His art is wonderful to view and imagine what it's all about in relationship to those influences he brought into his life, both in person and through his reading (Burroughs, etc), music listening, and television watching.I can't believe he was never arrested for drug posession being such a visable target... the book documents numerous times when he was just about to be found out and then the authorities just went away... or never showed up at all. He lived a charmed life in that respect... though it may have cost him his life, which brings me to the obvious conclusion: he was born to live fast and die young.We still have to see how his work stands the test of time but there is no doubt that he was an important and interesting artist that has left a wealth of images to contemplate... or dismiss. Like Hendrix or Jim Morrison we will only ever be able to think of him as young... never old enough to be wise.I loved learning more about the gallerists and art dealers of the time and reminising about the clubs and the music scene. And his relationship with Warhol. Well worth the time to read.

There is a lot about other artists and the art world in this book. Sometimes the information seems completely unrelated to Basquiat and more like filler. Still, I enjoyed the book. Not nearly enough pictures, and the ones that are included are grainy and difficult to really appreciate. I think that's a huge flaw in the book. Also, a lot about the personal lives of dealers and gallery owners, that seem quite out of place, or irrelevant.