All Photos By Gail
A familiar face in New York’s art world has found a spectacular new home on the Bowery. A five-story black-and-white mural honoring the late artist Jean-Michel Basquiat now covers the southern facade of a building at the corner of Bowery and Great Jones Street, just steps from the building where Basquiat once had his studio (visible in the above photo).
Created by New Zealand street artist Owen Dippie, the monumental portrait was completed in early October and offers a striking tribute to one of New York’s most influential artists. Basquiat’s unmistakable features and expressive presence are rendered on an impressive scale, transforming an otherwise ordinary city block into an open-air art destination.
There’s something especially fitting about seeing Basquiat’s image looking out over this particular stretch of the Bowery. The neighborhood was once part of his daily life and remains closely connected to his artistic legacy. Decades after his death, his presence continues to inspire artists and captivate new generations, and Dippie’s mural makes sure he remains very much a part of the streetscape.
