Art Story

In Banksquiat, Banksy pays homage to Basquiat while simultaneously critiquing the pervasive cycle of capitalism and consumerism. The artwork depicts a Ferris wheel, with each carriage replaced by Basquiat's iconic crown motif, symbolizing how masterpieces are mass-produced and commodified.
In addition to directly referencing Basquiat, Banksy also nods to another iconic street artist - Keith Haring - by using chalky white to illustrate the recurring crown motif against a black background. Notably, Haring began his career with a series of chalk drawings on vacant advertising panels in the New York subway system.
Banksquiat critiques the excesses of late capitalism, where art is commodified for mass consumption. However, this critique contains a paradox: for art to be truly accessible - a goal central to Banksy, Haring and Basquiat - it must be reproduced and shared, rather than controlled by a privileged few who own the originals or the rights.