An exhibition in Paris reveals Basquiat's art through the prism of Venus

If Jean-Michel Basquiat once said, “Venus, morning star, sweet potato, I have the silver and you have the gold”, today, it’s in an exhibition entirely dedicated to the Roman goddess that one of his lesser-known pieces will be showcased. Everything begins with Untitled, the piece to be shown at the Gagosian Gallery in a few days, back in 1982, when Basquiat was invited to Modena, a small town in northern Italy near Bologna, by the Italian collector Emilio Mazzoni to create eight works for a single exhibition. Although the opportunity seemed appealing at first, it turned into a disaster for the American painter, who was forced to work in a warehouse he described as a “sick factory”. In the end, the promised exhibition never took place due to payment issues, but the young painter’s efforts were not in vain, as a Swiss art dealer and collector named Bruno Bischofberger bought four of the eight paintings, including Untitled, which will be on view starting October 17 at the Gagosian Gallery in Paris.

However, the painting will not be shown alone but accompanied by an imperial Roman sculpture of the goddess holding a robe draped around her hips, from the Torlonia Collection, the largest private collection of ancient Roman artifacts. This collection has rarely been shown to the public since the mid-20th century. This year marks the first time it has left its home in Italy, especially Rome, first landing at the Louvre Museum, which is currently displaying a selection of its masterpieces until November 11. The loan was granted under strict conditions, requiring the gallery to support the conservation of the Roman sculpture.

Classical art is not a foreign theme to Basquiat. Before heading to Modena, he spent some time in the Eternal City with his partner Suzanne Mallouk, whom he called Venus. However, in the eight works that make up Modena, the goddess of love and beauty is not the only figure represented. She is accompanied by mythical and mystical characters such as the angel, the devil, the prophet, the miser, and the farmer, painted in vibrant colors and a childlike style. Untitled is the only painting to feature a female figure. The theme is not the only thing to be spiritual in this work of art : its colors and shades of blue, green, yellow, and black create a mesmerizing effect, almost like a magical aura and energy, with numerous artistic references that evoke The Birth of Venus by Botticelli, an iconic work of the Italian Renaissance (1445). The exhibition, Jean-Michel Basquiat: Venus, will be at the Gagosian Gallery (rue de Castiglionne, Paris, 75001) from October 17 to December 20, 2024.