Jean-Michel Basquiat’s banana is a recurring motif in his work that, like many of his symbols, blends humor, irony, and social critique. At first glance, it may seem trivial or even comical, but within Basquiat’s visual language it takes on multiple layers of meaning.
On one hand, the banana works as a pop reference: an everyday object loaded with cultural, sexual, and even absurd connotations, echoing the tradition of pop art and artists like Andy Warhol (who, in 1967, famously turned the banana into an icon with the album cover for The Velvet Underground & Nico). Basquiat, who both admired and collaborated with Warhol, reintroduces the motif in a playful way, but with a more chaotic and visceral energy.
On the other hand, the banana can be read as a critical symbol: it connects to themes of consumerism, exoticization, and racial stereotypes. The tropical fruit evokes colonial imaginaries and the economic exploitation tied to the trade of “exotic” goods in the West. By incorporating it into his work, Basquiat decontextualizes it and turns it into an emblem full of tensions—between comedy and discomfort, pop lightness and historical memory.
Moreover, the way he depicts it —with energetic, almost childlike strokes, scattered words, and graphic marks— enhances the sense of immediacy and freshness, yet behind this apparent spontaneity lies a sharp reflection on identity, power, and contemporary visual culture.
Ultimately, Basquiat’s banana is not just a fruit: it is a visual artifact that fuses humor, irreverence, and social critique, perfectly embodying the artist’s ability to transform the everyday into a biting commentary on the modern world.
The flexible LED tube is safe and environmentally friendly, too! Set the light to the time of day with adjustable brightness.
© Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat. Licensed by Artestar, New York.
Each sign is made of a neon flex material, consisting of PVC or Silicon piping with LED lights, that is mounted on a recycled acrylic board. These materials allow to create realistic neon signs, with bright lights and intense color, while being more durable, affordable, and sustainable than traditional neon.
Sustainability is taken seriously thanks to its LED lights which consumes 6 times less energy than traditional lights, lasting up to 100,000 hours. These neon is crafted using recycled materials and 100% recycled packaging, including removing all useless plastic.
