In 1983, Basquiat was already a well-known artist outside of New York. He began to travel a lot – this year he went to Los Angeles to present his paintings at an exhibition. Rap musician Rammellzee and graffiti artist Toxic kept him company. The canvas “Hollywood Africans” was painted during this trip.

In the painting we see their trio, as if standing under the sights of the cameras, against a background of the colorful yellow that symbolizes sunny Hollywood. And frankly, they don’t look particularly happy. At the time, in ’80s America, racism still prevailed over common sense. Even as an already successful artist, Basquiat was being attacked.

“Hollywood Africans” is a mockery of all the stereotypes about black actors in the ’80s. The author has written them out and crossed out the ones he wants to draw our attention to in the first place, which was his crowning technique.