AGO First Thursdays: Inside the Basquiat-themed bash with Grandmaster Flash and stylish gallery goers

by Randi Bergman February 6, 2015

The spirit of Jean Michel Basquiat was alive and well at last night’s opening of Now’s The Time, the Art Gallery of Ontario’s first large-scale retrospective of his work. Known for his primitive graffiti paintings and corkscrew dreads, Basquiat shot to the top of the New York art scene in the early 1980s. Back then, the Haitian-American artist was a burgeoning titan with a list of admirers running the gamut from Andy Warhol to Debbie Harry. His life became the stuff of legend after his death at age 27 (even resulting in the 1996 Julian Schnabel-directed biopic) and today, he’s proven more relevant than ever, frequently referenced by the likes of Jay Z.

Such unique blend of rap, rebellion and graffiti can inspire a lot of things—chief among them, one hell of a party. At last night’s monthly First Thursdays art bash, Basquiat’s oeuvre was celebrated with everything from a breakdance meets ballet performance to an electric late night DJ set by hip hop pioneer Grandmaster Flash. His high-profile collaborators shared the spotlight as well, with a Warhol-themed photo booth transforming attendees into latter day Factory guests with props and a silver décor.

As gallery goers wandered through the exhibit, Basquiat’s influence on style was felt as well, his signature mop, pattern mixes and streetwise slouch brought to life on many attendees. Flip through our slideshow for a taste of the night’s vibrant event.