Jean-Michel Basquiat Barbie Review

Stock photo of Jean-Michel Basquiat Barbie

Three words: I love her!

This doll is artistic perfection. Even the box screams Jean-Michel Basquiat with his artwork and iconic symbols throughout. I hope those who have deboxed their dolls will not discard the box.  I purchased two dolls with the plan to debox one, but I am having second thoughts about doing that now. That's just how impressed I am with the whole package.

I took several photos with and without flash. My photos do not do the doll or box justice. They are shared next.

Full view of the boxed doll

The doll uses the Nichelle head sculpt, which was first used in 1990 in the Shani doll line.

This facial close-up includes a closer look at the box background art of Jean-Michel Basquiat.

The facial screening is not as intense as the prototype images illustrate, which is a plus for me. I had initially thought the black eye lining would be too heavy based on the prototype photos, but it is not heavy on the production doll. The hair is styled in four sections of microbraids.

Dressed in a three-piece suit of a jacket, shirt, and wide-bottom pants, accessories include a tie, belt, gold crown, and red boots. The outfit is covered with several Basquiat drawings and paintings.

The tie and jacket lapels have abstract facial images.

What appears to be a self-portrait of Basquiat is an image of a brown-skinned man on the doll's tie. Graphic facial images are on both lapels of the jacket.

Barbie's belt

The lengthy, nylon webbed black belt continuously reads in white letters: SAMO© FOR THE SO-CALLED AVANTE GARDE.

Box graphics

The lower right corner of the box bears Jean-Michel Basquiat's signature above which is his iconic motif, the crown. Just as Basquiat often wore a crown, Barbie wears one, too. According to Francesco Clemente, "A crown appears frequently in the early work of Jean-Michel Basquiat signaling his ambition and understanding of art history" (Heroes and Saints).

Side Panels

One side panel also bears the artist's signature and iconic crown drawing.

The signature can be seen slightly better in this photo taken with the flash.

Basquiat's artwork, "Pez Dispenser," which features a crown-wearing dinosaur appears on the opposite panel of the doll's box.

"Pez Dispenser is an artwork created in 1984 by the Manhattan-based artist Jean-Michel Basquiat." (Pez Dispenser). It is included on the opposite side panel of the doll's box.

Back of the Box

Jean-Michel Basquiat and his artwork

Jean-Michel Basquiat and his artwork are on the back of the box as illustrated above with a very brief bio of the artist at the bottom of the box.

Jean-Michel Basquiat's box bio reads as follows:

"During the 1980s, as the art movement known as neo-expression gained traction, a young street artist from Brooklyn, NY emerged. Barbie celebrates the influential work of Jean-Michel Basquiat. His frenetic paintings are an infusion of graphic poetry, cultural dichotomies, and compelling social statements. Basquiat played an essential role in elevating graffiti art from the underground to gaining well-deserved acclaim in the upper echelons of the art world.

"In a stunning tribute to the artist, Barbie wears a head-to-toe ensemble featuring many well-known masterpieces spanning throughout Basquiat's career. From the gleaming golden crown atop her head, to the bespoke suit emblazoned with artwork, Jean-Michel Basquiat X Barbie doll is a curated collaboration bridging two cultural icons."

I love her; I really do!

This articulated doll is part of the Gold label collection. No more than 20,000 Jean-Michel Basquiat X Barbie dolls will be produced worldwide. A certificate of authenticity and a doll stand are included with this three-dimensional masterpiece.

References:
"Heroes and Saints." http://basquiat.guggenheim-bilbao.eus/en/heroes-and-saints/
"Pez Dispenser." http://www.jean-michel-basquiat.org/pez-dispenser/

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There are countless items to collect and write about. Black dolls chose me.
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Roddy Doll's New Tea Dance Fashion

Three pieces of the four-piece fashion for a 24-inch 1960s Roddy doll by Frantz Brent-Harris

The above-commissioned fashion was made for a 24-inch 1960s Roddy doll that was written about in an earlier post.  The link to the earlier post is included at the end of this post.  The versatile fashion and shoes were made by doll artist, Frantz Brent-Harris, and includes an additional elaborate piece which the doll will model in two of the following looks.

Look #1

Look #1

Look #1 includes the strapless, backless, aqua blue satin dress, silver-soled high-heel shoes with aqua ribbon laces, and a matching straw hat.

The dress is embellished at the waist with fabric flowers and faux jewels.

The backless dress zips closed in the back.

Close-up of the stylish shoes which tie in the back with ribbon ties

Look #2

The fourth piece is an elaborate tiered tulle with a drawstring top and a ruffled hemline that can be worn at the shoulders as a wrap as shown here.

Look #3

Here, the tulle is worn over the head to drape entirely over the dress for a more dramatic look.

There are two elastic loops to help hold the tulle in place at either the wrists or elbows when looks #2 or #3 are desired.  Profile and back views of look #3 are shown next.

Look #4

Tulle skirt

The tulle piece can be tied at the waist to create this full-skirted look.  Either look can be worn with or without the straw hat to add to the versatility. I added blue crystal stud earrings to accessorize her new fashion. She just needs a matching jeweled necklace to complete the look and perhaps a fabric clutch.

Striking a final pose

She strikes a final pose in the above final photo as she continues to model look #4.

Frantz did a fabulous job creating this lovely ensemble that he named "Tea Dance." The design and color choice, which complements the doll's ebony complexion, were his. He used the perfect model for the fashion, his own doll that is identical to mine.

I have not been able to identify our doll's name. I did discover that the original maker of Roddy Dolls was D. G. Todd who sold the company in the mid-1960s and that Roddy-marked dolls were sold under the name Bluebell after the sale.  Read more about this doll at the following links.

Lovely Roddy Doll From England
Roddy Black Fashion Doll, Who Am I?

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There are countless items to collect and write about. Black dolls chose me.
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Hand-Sculpted OOAK Magnets and Broaches

One-of-a-kind polymer clay magnet by Misha Yarbrough

Made by the talented Misha Yarbrough, shown above, is a one-of-a-kind polymer clay magnet. She has made these as cameo-style broaches, too.

These are other examples of Misha's magnets and broaches. She currently has some listed on eBay here.

After purchasing the one shown in the first image, I commissioned Misha to make a portrait broach using one of my photos.  The photo and the broach are shown above in a side-by-side photograph.  As she worked on it, without showing the actual photo of me, Misha made a short video. Several people on Instagram and on Facebook knew it was me, which is a testament to her talent.

The broach is shown above in front and back views.

My commissioned piece arrived in a cotton-lined gift-box as perfect as I had imagined.  My husband asked, "So what are you going to do, walk around with a broach of yourself?"  My answer was, "No, I'm going to pin it where my other broach collection is pinned.  But truth be told, yes, I will wear it and proudly.

Other doll pins and broaches

This denim hobo-style bag is where most of my broaches are pinned.  For now, the one Misha made will be stored in the gift box until I choose to wear it.

Africa and me.

As a side note, the shape of my commissioned broach interestingly reminds me of the shape of the continent of Africa.

Here again, is a link to Misha's current eBay listings.

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There are countless items to collect and write about. Black dolls chose me.
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In the Doll World Podcast

There is an exciting new podcast devoted to those who live "In the Doll World" -- artists, collectors, and other doll enthusiasts.  Hosted by Georgette Taylor (former vice-president and co-founder of Big Beautiful Dolls, Inc.) and Tammy (teej) Fisher (owner of Curiositeej Dolls & Collectibles), In the Doll World offers a series of informative podcast interviews for your listening pleasure.

Visit and listen to the current podcasts.

Subscribe to be informed of future podcasts using the subscribe tab at the site.

Offer suggestions on others you would like to have them interview using their email links on the home page of their site.

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There are countless items to collect and write about. Black dolls chose me.
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Basquiat X Barbie Updated

Stock photo of Jean-Michel Basquiat Barbie

Jean-Michel Basquiat X Barbie is available at Barbie.Mattel.com with a limit of two dolls per order.  The doll is a tribute to the acclaimed artist, Jean-Michel Basquiat, who started out as a street artist during the late 1970s in New York. His 1980s rise to fame was short-lived by his untimely death on August 12, 1988, at the young age of 27. Basquiat left behind a body of work that sells for multiple thousands of dollars today. Owning his Barbie tribute will be as close as I will come to owning some of his art.

The doll's specifics are copied from the order page below:

• Designer: Carlyle Nuera
• Release Date: 4/15/2020
• Included with doll: Crown, jacket, shirt, tie, belt, pants, boots, doll stand
• Eyelashes: Painted
• Fashion: Wide-legged trousers, a jacket, shirt, tie and belt
• Fashion Sewn On?: No
• Body Type: Pivotal
• Doll Stand: Yes
• Facial sculpt: Nichelle
• Package Dimensions (H/D/W): 13" x 2" x 8"
• Limit 2 per person

SKU #: GHT53

Price: $50

Read more about the doll on the ordering page as well as in an article by Allen Voivod here wherein designer, Carlyle Nuera, describes his inspiration for the doll's creation.

Update 4/16/2020 This doll is on backorder at the Barbie.Mattel website, but is currently available at Macy.com with free shipping.  Due to the doll's popularity, quantities at Macy's might be exhausted soon. If you desire to purchase, purchase now!

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There are countless items to collect and write about. Black dolls chose me.
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2020 Annual Club Doll

Sculpted head of our 2020 annual doll

The members of my private Facebook group commissioned doll artist, Karen Oyekanmi to make our 2020 club doll, which will be the group's last annual doll.  As usual, we voted on the face sculpt, hair, clothing, and the doll's other details.

During the doll-making process, Karen shared photos of the different stages of completion.  Some of the beginning stages of the dolls are illustrated below.

The bodies have been added to the sculpted head.

Fully sewn with arms and legs attached, the faces have been partially painted.

Hair has been added, faces fully painted, and the dolls have been dressed.

The club doll comes with two dolls to hold, a boy and a girl.  The mini dolls are shown here before they were dressed.

The minis are made of felt, too.

The result of our choices and Karen’s doll-making magic resulted in twenty-five, 16-inch felt dolls inspired by the 2018 most beautiful girl in the world, Jare Ijalana from Lagos, Nigeria.  While the dolls look like sisters, because each one was hand-sculpted and hand-painted, they each have different personalities. They are each one-of-a-kind.

After I received the dolls from Karen, each doll was removed from the cellophane Karen had shipped them in. I individually inspected them, fluffed their hair in place, wrapped each in bubble wrap, and placed each one back into the cellophane in preparation for boxing and mailing individually to each club member.

After the dolls were completed, Karen shipped them to me for me to ship out separately to each club member.  I inspected each doll prior to boxing each doll for mailing. 

Some of the club members who shared photos of their dolls gave me permission to share the photos here.

Jackie Harpp included her doll's certificate in the photo.

Cheryl Bruce's doll took a cute seated photo with the Ava Duvernay doll by Funko.

Bonnie Lewis posed her doll with the 2019 club doll by Goldie Wilson and the 2017 club doll by Sue Sizemore.

Cathy Runnels added hair to her doll before sharing this close-up photograph.

Debbie VonHendricks' doll posed with a variety of other dolls in Debbie's collection.

Deborah Johnson also included her doll's certificate of authenticity (COA) in the photograph she shared.

Looking quite confident, Dorothy Singleton's doll took this laid-back photo after the doll's arrival to her new home.

My next-door neighbor, Florence Evans (next city over, that is), took this group photo that features her 2020 club doll.

Anita "Nini" Ornsby's doll holds her two mini dolls securely.

Shawatha Kendrick's doll is surrounded by other dolls in her collection.

Vicky Williams shared this pretty photo of her pretty girl and minis.

Wanda Richardson, whose doll's delivery was delayed by the USPS for unknown reasons, shared this photo of her doll and the doll's COA.

Phyllis Burns gave her doll a coordinating ribbon headband and bracelets.

Sheila Young said her doll loves the color orange.

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It took me a while to take photos of my doll, but I finally took some a few days prior to sitting down to write this post.  My girl's photos are incorporated in the following description.

Description

My doll and her mini dolls

The 16-inch all-felt dolls have sculpted mask faces with dark-brown 4C natural-textured hair, painted black eyes that have blue irises, and painted lips that are highlighted with gold paint.

This close-up of my doll's face illustrates her eye color.

They are dressed identically in an orange floral-print dress, orange panties, and silver pumps with a silver bow at the vamp.

The 4-inch minis are made of felt. The boy's complexion is light brown; the girl's complexion is medium brown. The larger doll's fingers are wired for posing.  The fingers can be clasped, as shown, or unclasped. The fingernails are painted.

As illustrated in the members' photographs and my photograph immediately above, our dolls hold a boy and girl doll.  The minis and their clothing are made of felt.  The boy wears a blue nautical romper; the girl wears a red dress with iridescent stars applied.  They both have black yarn hair. The girl's hair is adorned with a blue bow.  Both minis have painted facial features and painted-on socks and shoes. 

Also noted, each doll has a signed and dated certificate of authenticity which certifies each as an "original art felt doll limited edition of 25 hand crafted by artist Karen Oyekanmi."

My doll is displayed with other felt dolls in my collection.  Another Karen Oyekanmi creation, named Toddler Baby that holds a doll stands next to the 2020 club doll.  A needle-felted doll made by Sue Sizemore; and Destiny, a tribute doll to Ruby Bridges, made by Rachel McCullough of Starkey's Daughter Cloth Dolls are the other two dolls.

Based in Oakland, CA, Karen Oyekanmi is the 1984 founder of American Black Beauty Doll Artists.  She did a fabulous job of completing this commissioned work and keeping us abreast of the doll-making process throughout. 

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There are countless items to collect and write about. Black dolls chose me.
__________
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