Jean-Michel Basquiat: The Making of an Icon examines key aspects of the artist's life such as his childhood trauma, sexuality, cultural identities and struggles with addiction - topics long downplayed in the museum and art world, arguably due to the controlling role played by his estate. Simultaneously Woodham uncovers the previously untold story of how a few against-the-grain speculators and gallerists - plus his deftly skilled and strategic father, the band U2 and a bestselling children's book - all contributed to bringing what Basquiat accomplished back to the centre of the conversation and in the process helped to birth a new era in contemporary art.
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