American artist Jean-Michel Basquiat worked alongside the likes of Keith Haring and Andy Warhol in the 1970s and 1980s in New York. His artwork, categorized as neo-expressionism, is full of bold colors and symbolic, abstract images. Themes in his work skew mature — wealth and poverty, inner self and outer self, race and power — but the art certainly resonates with young art appreciators. In fact, Los Angeles non-profit P.S. Arts has teamed up with local exhibition “Jean-Michel Basquiat :King Pleasure” to host art events geared toward families.
On the first Thursday of every month through October 15, P.S. Arts and the family of Jean-Michel Basquiat welcome guests to Family Arts Night, an evening of free educational programming inspired by Basquiat’s work and life. After viewing the exhibition, families are invited to explore, imagine, and create their own neo-expressionist artwork, from a Basquiat-inspired cityscape or skull self-portraits to contour drawings. All supplies are provided and guests need not have art experience to join the fun. Families can reserve their free workshop tickets in advance online; the first 100 guests will be admitted. The event will start at 6 p.m. (choose this time on the ticket sales site) and last approximately 45 minutes. Events will be led by a different teaching artist each month.
“P.S. Arts is pleased to be partnering with the ‘Jean-Michel Basquiat:King Pleasure’ exhibition to engage families and schools in hands-on, art-making workshops created specifically for the show,” a P.S. Arts representative shared. “Basquiat’s vibrant, expressive work has an uninhibited and spontaneous style, which encourages children to embrace their own creativity and express themselves freely. His use of personal symbols, words, and abstract figures provide inspiration for kids to explore new ways of representing their thoughts and emotions through a visual narrative.”
This event is set for June 1, July 6, August 3, September 7, and October 5.
