Music was never just playing in the background for Jean-Michel Basquiat. It became part of the language of his paintings. A devoted record collector, Basquiat drew heavily from jazz, bebop, hip-hop and the sounds of downtown New York. Charlie Parker was a particular obsession, appearing through names, symbols and references in works like Charles the First, CPRKR and Horn Players. The influence went beyond the musicians themselves. Basquiat’s paintings move almost like music: words repeat, images overlap, ideas disappear and return, creating a sense of rhythm and improvisation across the canvas. Once you start looking for the music in Basquiat’s work, it’s hard not to hear it. 📩 Looking to sell or understand the value of a work by Warhol, Basquiat, Haring, Banksy, Hockney, KAWS or Kusama? DM the gallery for an appraisal. billyludwig #JeanMichelBasquiat #Basquiat #ArtHistory #ContemporaryArt #NYCArt #BlueChipArt #ArtCollectors #ArtWorld #GuyHepner