Paris: Basquiat exhibit marks 50th anniversary of artist’s birth

The Musee d’Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris is mounting a major retrospective dedicated to internationally renowned American artist Jean-Michel Basquiat (1960-88). The exhibit will open Friday, Oct. 15, in the French capital and run through Jan. 30.

Born in Brooklyn, of Puerto Rican and Haitian descent, Basquiat died of a drug overdose at age 27. His paintings grew from experiments with graffiti on the streets of New York into a major force in the Neo-Expressionist movement.

Employing an eclectic mix of voodoo imagery, racial commentary, ancient Egyptian mythology, Bible stories and comic strips, Basquiat for many came to symbolize the urban underground counterculture of the mid-20^th century.

The exhibit, which marks the 50th anniversary of Basquiat’s birth, includes more than a hundred pieces drawn from museums and private collections in the U.S. and Europe. It is the first major exhibition of the artist’s work to be held in France.

Info: Musee d’Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris. Exhibit admission is about $15. The museum is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays (and until 10 p.m. Thursdays); closed Mondays.