There has always been something about Jean-Michel Basquiat that I’ve felt connected to—not because I could fully understand his experience, but because I can imagine the intensity of the art world that came at him so fast and furiously, and what that might have taken from a young creative spirit.Perhaps that connection also comes from knowing that our paths existed in New York City at the same time. In the 1980s, while Basquiat was emerging in the New York art world, I was there too, studying art at the School of Visual Arts and finding my own creative voice. We never crossed paths, but sometimes I wonder if we could have.

Remembering Basquiat grew from that sense of connection. Through bold color, pattern, and portraiture, the painting is not an attempt to explain Basquiat or his work. For me, it is a reflection on the artist behind the image—a young man whose work spoke to identity, power, humanity, and a world that could both celebrate and consume the creative spirit.

The Opening Reception will be held Friday, August 28, from 6–8 p.m. at the HopeHealth Streater Community Center, 301 N. Dargan Street, Florence, SC. The reception is free and open to the public, and the exhibition will remain on view through October 9, 2026.

I’m grateful to have Remembering Basquiat selected for this year’s Small Works exhibition and look forward to sharing the work as part of this wonderful gathering of artists and community.