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| | | | Site Information | | | Art of world cultures from antiquity to the present.
| Comparing and contrasting great works of art is a stimulating visual exercise. This fall, we invite you to explore the galleries of both the Law and Beck buildings, where it will be fascinating to find affinities in and to observe differences between the works of two phenomenal artists: Jean-Michel Basquiat and Thornton Dial.
Jean-Michel Basquiat was the ultimate insider in the frenzied, celebrity-obsessed New York art world of the 1980s. Although a self-taught artist, he acquired a deep understanding of art history, initially through visiting New York's major art museums when he was only four or five years old. Influenced by artists ranging from Leonardo to Picasso, Basquiat went on to create his own style of painting. His works incorporate language and text with images, a group of repeated personal symbols, and a rhythmic harmony of surface based on a loosely gridded picture plane. He led a tragically brief life, and the landmark exhibition Basquiat provides the first serious examination of his extraordinary paintings and drawings.
Thornton Dial is an inspirational example of a contemporary artist who, at age 77, is coming into his own. Like Basquiat, Dial is self-taught, but whereas Basquiat's career was skyrocketing in the 1980s, Dial's was only beginning to take off. Dial comes from a rural background, yet his artworks are equally insightful and challenging. His determination to fuse the boundaries between painting and sculpture places him firmly in the arena of contemporary artists who are forging new territories. In this regard, Dial takes up the mantle of Basquiat by pursuing visually vigorous flights of freedom. Organized by the MFAH, the major retrospective Thornton Dial in the 21st Century features recently completed works, many of which have never been exhibited before.
We are pleased to offer MFAH visitors the unique chance to experience the impact of Basquiat and Dial while the two shows overlap during the holiday season. See for yourself how art that grew out of urban hip-hop culture stacks up against works that reflect the blues and jazz traditions of the Gulf Coast.
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| | Date Added: Tue Sep 13 2005 | | Last Updated: Tue Sep 13 2005 | | | | |
