Museum Security 1983

Editor: We're looking at Jean-Michel Basquiat's "Museum Security" from 1983, a mixed-media painting that feels chaotic and layered. All of these different words and symbols are fighting for attention. How do you interpret this work? Curator: This piece feels like a powerful critique, doesn't it? It's Basquiat using his signature neo-expressionist style, directly confronting ideas around institutional power, cultural gatekeeping, and even corporate influence. "Museum Security"—what does that title evoke for you in the context of Basquiat, a Black artist achieving prominence in a predominantly white art world? Editor: I guess I never thought of it that way, but seeing the words “security” and thinking about who is kept *out* of these institutions makes sense. Curator: Exactly! Consider the words he chooses – "asbestos," "FBI," even corporate brands like "Esso." It’s almost a visual stream of consciousness, reflecting the anxieties and contradictions of the 1980s. What do you make of the figure at the center? Editor: He’s pretty hard to ignore. The red eyes seem almost confrontational. Curator: I agree. It makes me wonder about the figures and how Basquiat is inviting us to consider those that are consistently under surveillance, especially black individuals, while also making commentary about commerce in this society. It all ties into questions of race, class, and access. How do you think he's using these artistic elements to address these themes? Editor: It makes me see beyond just the "graffiti art" label, into the deeper social commentary it’s making. I hadn't considered the layered historical and political meanings within his work. Curator: Precisely! Basquiat used his art as a platform to engage in those crucial conversations. I leave viewing this work reflecting on whose stories are told in our galleries.