Angelina Jolie in Jean-Michel Basquiats House: Boutique or Ancient Salon?

Yes, it looks a little wild from the outside, the building on Great Jones Street 57 in the East Village, in the heart of Manhattan. And that is also supposed to live and worked here Jean-Michel Basquiat from 1983 until his death in 1988. From 1970, the former carriage house was part of Andy Warhol, who later rented it to the younger colleagues. From the outside, the two -story building seems inconspicuous, somewhat deteriorated. But life was breathed in again-thanks to a Hollywood size.

Art, design and coffee

Angelina Jolie has returned here. With her project, which summarizes a lot under the name Atelier Jolie under one roof: artist residence and café, museum and designer studio. The actress herself, the responsible broker to « Curbed.com », is said to have taken a close look at the rental property, for which a medium five -digit amount is due every month, before the contract is concluded.

The rental agreement is said to have been concluded for eight years. And what art connoisseurs will be happy: The facade is initially preserved, the graffiti (including those that will also come) should remind of the history of the house. Inside, it also continues with a look at art and culture: The Invisible Dog Art Center can be found on the basement, ground floor and on the first floor, currently with an art project or an exhibition called « Beach for Woman » by the French Prune Nourry with works by other artists and initiatives.

Also on level 0: « Eat offbeat », a café with catering service. At level 1, Zolaykha Sherzad, a Swiss designer with Afghan roots, currently found a temporary home. And somewhere in between, fashion is also offered, as is reported.

A former creative partner of Basquiats, the urban art artist Al Diaz, explained « Ocula.com » that he had dined with Jolie and that she was extremely interested in the cultural heritage of the house. « I don’t know what Jean-Michel would think about what was going on here, but he would probably not care. »

The voices from the art scene are otherwise mixed, as US media report. Some protagonists from the past initially commented critically, for example with regard to the missed chance to set a monument to the late Basquiat.

But it is probably also glad that a project with meaning was still created. « It could also have been a McDonald’s, » said Alexis Adler, a former friend of the artist. And you are probably a little happier about the fact that Jolie, unlike planned, further developed the studio Jolie in the direction of the Künstlerhaus rather than in the direction of the boutique.

Creative meeting point

Recently, the « New York Times » (NYT) reported, Angelina Jolie invited all sorts of creative minds to the holy Basquiat halls, for an event about artist, filmmaker and photographer Shirin Neshat. And the Hollywood star held back. « I want to see what other people are doing, » the 49-year-old is quoted.

Lucien Zayan from The Invisible Dog confirms her concern to the NYT with a view to the famous previous tenant. « There used to be a large community table in the room. People kept coming together and talking, » said the gallery owner. « That is exactly what she wanted. »

The Galerie The Invisible Dog has to do with less space in the Basquiat House than before, but can be lucky to pay not to pay rent. In Brooklyn, you had to raise $ 500,000 annually, just « to open the doors ».

According to the Nyt, Basquiat’s sisters, Angelina Jolie even gave the « Go » for her project, in which the actress invested a lot of time and passion. « This is what I need as an artist. That is what I want for my children – learn something about other people and make contacts and share and play. » Doubts about their actions come up again and again. « Sometimes I think: what are we doing here? » And then she realizes that her procedure is the right thing.

Atelier Jolie, 57 Great Jones Street, New York; Tuesday to Saturday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.; www.atelierjolie.com