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Landmarks committee advises against oversized Basquiat portrait mural proposed for 344 Bowery
Summary
Manhattan Community Board 2Landmarks Committee reviewed an application for a large painted portrait of Jean-Michel Basquiat at 344 Bowery and recommended denial after members and public commenters raised aesthetic, contextual and legal concerns.
The Manhattan Community Board 2 Landmarks Committee on the application at 344 Bowery recommended denial of a proposed large painted portrait mural of artist Jean-Michel Basquiat by New Zealand muralist Owen Dippie.
The recommendation follows a presentation by the applicant—s representatives, who described the proposal as an "homage to Basquiat" to be painted on the building—s north facade. The presenters said the piece would take about two to three weeks to complete, would be painted with aerosol/acrylic over an existing oil-based finish and would cover roughly half of the north wall, though committee members questioned that calculation.
Committee members and dozens of public commenters raised objections on several grounds. Committee members said the portrait-style imagery feels more like branding or a photographic appropriation than an…
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