SANDY KELSO
Sandy Kelso is a rising senior at William & Mary majoring in Art History with a concentration in Critical Curatorial Studies. This semester she joins us virtually from Nice, France where she is studying business management abroad. Within the scope of Art History, she is most interested in contemporary art, fashion, and architecture. This summer she will be interning at Christie's in their New York Salesroom. She has previously interned for Art Business Consulting in New York, New York, and The Bass Museum of Art in Miami, Florida. Upon graduating from William & Mary, she plans to attend graduate school to further her studies in the arts.
THE ROLE OF ART IN BRAND DEVELOPMENT: DISCOVERING JEAN-MICHEL BASQUIAT THROUGH FASHION
Photograph of Jean-Michel Basquiat for The New York Times Magazine (cover). February 10, 1985. Image: Lizzie Himmel. Artwork: The Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat.
In stores and online, purchasing wearable art has never been easier. This essay explores the work of Jean-Michel Basquiat to analyze the role of art in the fashion industry and the merits of fashion in allowing consumers to discover art. Jean-Michel Basquiat was one of the most influential artists who bridged art and fashion as forms of creative expression. As a twenty-something, he roamed the streets of New York and attended gallery openings in suits covered with the same paint technique he used on his canvas. Brands took note of his unique sense of style leading to posthumous collections in an effort to pay homage to his rule-breaking streetwear. Of the many Basquiat collaborations, notable luxury collections include Valentino, Off-White, Supreme, and Comme des Garçons. Mainstream retailers like Target, Gap, and Converse have also adopted Basquiat’s signature imagery for their clothing, making his art accessible to the masses. Basquiat's artwork is essential to understanding a brand's desire to use contemporary art in their seasonal lines and appeal to younger consumers. Not only is his work eye-capturing but it records a complex reception of white and black power while highlighting concepts from the practice of Hattian Vodou, an often misunderstood religion. The lack of early support from museums enabled brands and consumers the ability to secure Basquiat's place in the canon of art history. The ongoing adoration of his work supports the notion that formal art institutions no longer act as the sole arbiters in determining the historical value of an art piece. The recent unveiling of his work Equals Pie (1982) by Tiffany & Co. and the use of repeated motifs in his art to be printed on clothing demonstrate fashion's ability to elevate an artist's place in the history of art and greater contemporary America. Today Basquiat is one of the most acclaimed contemporary artists of a generation, an achievement that wouldn't have been possible without the art form of fashion.