June 26, 2020
Dear Jean-Michel,
Sorry to disturb your rest. Although your work offers instructions on how to repel ghosts, I am seeking yours out to provide some news and updates.
Since you left this world in 1988 there have been some developments that I think you would want to know about. I’m not sure if you are in Heaven or Hell—your life had its transgressions—but in either event I hope this reaches you wherever you are in eternity.
First, the good news. Earlier this year one of your paintings sold for more than $100 million dollars in a private sale. It’s the second time that one of your paintings has sold for such a vast sum. You are at the top of the market.
The buyer was a hedge fund manager named Ken Griffin who lives in a $238 million dollar penthouse. Mr. Griffin, who has an estimated fortune of $12.8 billon, is a supporter of President Donald Trump who you may remember as a loud-mouthed New York real estate developer. There is quite a bit I could say about President Trump, but will simply mention that Trump was endorsed in 2016 by the leader of the KKK and leave it at that.
You are the talk of the art world. You and your art have been the subject of innumerable major shows, many documentaries and movies and dozens of books. The latest one is a coffee table book about your friendship with Andy Warhol.
Your estate has been very successful and makes quite a bit of money by product licensing Basquiat products. You always liked trademarks and brands and in death you are have become one. Heck, you are bigger than Elvis. At most museum stores there are Basquat t-shirts and skate decks on sale. There is also a line of Basquiat cosmetics from Urban Decay. There is even a Basquiat Barbie: not sure how you might feel about that…
One more bit of good news. Black artists are having a moment in general and you are looked up to as a pioneer. You helped break the ice.
Now, the bad news.
In recent years Black men and women have faced appalling racial violence and have been attacked and murdered with sickening frequency. Sadly, the type of incident you recorded in your painting “The Death of Michael Stewart,” has become commonplace. Your art, which so often narrated the history of past injustices, has been prophetic. It’s not what you hoped for.
I know I have disturbed your rest, but it felt important to me to have this chat with you across mortality. I hope you will remember me as the young man who once made canvases for you in 1982: one of the “obnoxious liberals” that witnessed your rise and fall on earth. You made quite an impression.
Rest in peace. I won’t be contacting you again unless the news is all good.