Jean-Michel Basquiat - Basquiat Dipinti - 2000s

This is a poster for an exhibition dedicated to Jean-Michel Basquiat, held at the Chiostro del Bramante in Rome in 2002. The artwork depicted is a graffiti-inspired, neo-expressionist reinterpretation of Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa.

The poster features Basquiat’s work Mona Lisa (1983). The artist transforms the Renaissance icon into a distorted and almost skeletal figure, using his distinctive style that blends graffiti and figurative art. The subject is framed within a border reminiscent of a one-dollar bill (Federal Reserve Note), with inscriptions such as "THIS NOTE IS LEGAL TENDER" and the number "1" in the corners. The use of warm colors like ochre and brown contrasts with bold black lines and touches of red and yellow, creating a raw, energetic image that serves as a social critique of the commercial value of art.

Cultural Importance: It is an interesting piece because it documents one of the major Italian retrospective exhibitions of the early 2000s. The pairing of Basquiat with a classical institution like the Chiostro del Bramante reflects the dialogue between contemporary art and classicism.