Focus on this artwork and discuss the Background.
In 1981, Jean-Michel Basquiat began dating Suzanne Mallouk, a waitress and aspiring artist he met at Night Birds bar in Manhattan's East Village. He moved in with her and she paid the rent while he focused on painting. That same year, he made the transition from a street artist to exhibiting his artwork in galleries. They moved into a loft provided by gallerist Annina Nosei on Crosby Street in SoHo in early 1982; Mallouk moved out of the loft a few months later. They dated on-and-off until 1983.In 1982, Basquiat began dating Madonna, then an up-and-coming singer working on her debut album Madonna. According to Ed Steinberg, who directed the music video for her debut single "Everybody," he arranged for them to meet at his place after Madonna spotted Basquiat at Lucky Strike nightclub. However, Basquiat's former Gray bandmate Nick Taylor stated that he introduced them during Retro Night at Bowlmor. Soon after meeting, Madonna moved into Basquiat's Crosby Street loft and they dated until 1983. One night while they were at The Roxy nightclub in Chelsea, Mallouk spotted them and attacked Madonna in a jealous rage. Mallouk also made a bonfire of Basquiat's paintings outside his loft.
Madonna Suzanne Mallouk street artist Everybody Jean-Michel Basquiat waitress Bowlmor on-and-off East Village Gray bonfire gallerist Chelsea Ed Steinberg The Roxy Annina Nosei SoHo