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Basquiat, Bebop and the Beats

Painting by Jean Michel Basquiat King Zulu

Basquiat had a personal collection of more than 3,000 records and his works abounded with references to jazz and blues. Discover how music became a powerful source of inspiration for his work. 

Basquiat rarely worked without something playing in the studio. Although his tastes were diverse - ranging from David Byrne to Donna Summer to Bach - his paintings and drawings were dominated by the history of black jazz musicians and his hero Charlie Parker in particular. Renowned jazz scholar Francesco Martinelli discusses Basquiat’s relationship to jazz and bebop, followed by a Q&A led by musician and writer David Toop.

Supported by Cockayne Grants for the Arts, a donor-advised fund of the London Community Foundation. 

Frobisher Auditorium 1