David Bowie, a legendary figure in music, had a deep appreciation for visual arts that significantly influenced his work. Throughout his life, Bowie established connections with various renowned artists, whose creations resonated with his artistic vision.
Frank Auerbach’s Impact on Bowie
“My God, yeah! I want to sound like that looks” — David Bowie on Frank Auerbach’s work, quoted in the New York Times, 1998. Bowie loved the rich, sculptural effects of Auerbach’s paintings, which prompted a plethora of reactions from the artist. He expressed, “It will give spiritual weight to my angst. Some mornings I’ll look at it and go, ‘Oh, God, yeah! I know!’ But that same painting, on a different day, can produce in me an incredible feeling of the triumph of trying to express myself as an artist.”
The painting was last exhibited at the Royal Academy when Bowie lent the work to Auerbach’s retrospective in 2001.
Courtesy Sotheby’s
Bowie and Basquiat
The connection between Bowie and Basquiat was notably showcased in Julian Schnabel’s 1996 film, where Bowie portrayed the young artist’s mentor, Andy Warhol. Bowie noted a significant affinity with Basquiat, stating, “It comes as no surprise to learn that he had a not-so-hidden ambition to be a rock musician. His work relates to rock in ways that very few other visual artists get near.”
Diverse Emotional Expressions
Bowie expressed, “He’s different. I think his work is extremely emotional and very tied up with his own personal fears — his fear of death is very strong — and I find his pieces moving and not at all flippant.”
Iconic Memphis Furniture
This ‘Casablanca’ piece was intended to serve as a room divider, general storage, and a wine rack. It showcased flamboyant patterns and shapes, using plastic laminate Formica to reference the ‘wipe-clean’ interiors commonly found in American diners and kitchenettes.
