Jean-Michel Basquiat Way Unveiled in New York City
Jean-Michel’s legacy has found a permanent place in the city he called home. Jean-Michel Basquiat Way has been officially unveiled on Great Jones Street, between Bowery and Lafayette Street in New York City — forever linking his name to the neighborhood that helped shape his extraordinary career.
For our family, this recognition by the City of New York carries profound significance. Jean-Michel’s story is, at its core, a New York one — born from the city’s rhythm, struggle, brilliance, and boundless creativity. To see his legacy woven into the fabric of the streets he once walked is both humbling and affirming.
The building at 57 Great Jones Street, once owned by Andy Warhol, was Jean-Michel’s home and studio during some of the most prolific years of his life. Within these walls, he created works that would go on to transform the landscape of contemporary art, blending poetry, symbolism, and social commentary into a visual language uniquely his own.
The co-naming of this street stands as a tribute not only to Jean-Michel’s genius as a painter, but to his courage as a brilliant young artist who expanded the boundaries of what art could say and who it could represent. His work continues to inspire new generations — artists, thinkers, and dreamers — who see in his story the power of self-definition and creative freedom.
Special thanks to LeRoy McCarthy for first bringing this opportunity to the Council.
During the ceremony, Erik Bottcher, Council Member for District 3 and Chair of the Cultural Affairs Committee in the New York City Council, shared these words:
“Today, we honor a man whose heart reflected life and all its complexity — the beauty, the struggle, the truth. With the naming of Jean-Michel Basquiat Way, we’re not only recognizing one of the greatest artists of the 20th century; we’re affirming New York City’s deep and ongoing connection to creativity, diversity, and fearless self-expression.”
Jean-Michel Basquiat Way now stands as both a landmark and a reminder — of the enduring power of art, the city that shaped him, and the spirit that continues to inspire the world.
