Jean-Michel Basquiat was born on December 22, 1960, in Brooklyn, New York and for the majority of his career he has been associated with the hustle and bustle of that great city.
Basquiat rose to fame in the early 1980s with art that combined graffiti with neo-expressionism. He became a central figure in the New York art scene, known for his vibrant, chaotic works that often addressed themes of race, identity, and social justice.
Basquiat’s unexpected inspiration with Switzerland started in 1982 when he held his first show at Galerie Bruno Bischofberger in Zurich. Bruno Bischofberger is a prominent Swiss gallerist known for introducing American pop art to Europe. Bischofberger purchased four of Basquiat’s paintings from the Emilio Mazzoli’s gallery in Moderna, Italy during an aborted exhibition by the artist.
Bischofberger then becomes Basquiat’s worldwide exclusive art dealer, an agreement that lasted until the artist’s death in 1988. Bischofberger also introduced Basquiat to Andy Warhol taking a photograph of the two that became the painting Dos Cabezas (1982) - a portrait of both artists together.
Their relationship grew through Basquiat's numerous visits, where he stayed at Bischofberger's homes in Küsnacht on the shores of Lake Zurich and in St Moritz. St Moritz and the Engadin region in particular captivating Basquiat, his works often incorporating the local scenery, traditions, and even bratwurst. The valley's blend of natural beauty and cultural heritage offered Basquiat a unique and serene environment, far removed from the frenetic pace of New York City.
During one of his visits, Basquiat discussed collaborative art projects, leaving his mark in the guest book and on a canvas with Bischofberger’s four-year-old daughter, Cora that became the painting Pakiderm 3 (1983). Intrigued by the idea, Bischofberger approached Basquiat with a proposition: collaborating with Andy Warhol and another artist. Bischofberger then reached out to both Andy Warhol and Francesco Clemente, both artists in his gallery, and inquired if they would be interested in participating in a collaborative project involving fifteen paintings. To his delight, both artists agreed. In September 1984 Galerie Bruno Bischofberger, showed all fifteen collaboration works by Basquiat, Clemente, and Warhol.
Despite the artist's struggles with drug addiction and his unconventional habits, the Bischofberger family maintained a fond and complex relationship with him. These experiences reveal a lesser-known side of Basquiat's creative journey, showcasing the profound impact of his time in the Engadin Valley.
I think he’s a great artist. He’s like a combination of Picasso and a street kid. He has this innocence and purity, but also a kind of primal, energetic power.Andy Warhol