Christine Whaley

Christine Whaley, known as Melosa Basquiat, is a self-taught "artivist". Born and raised in Jamaica, Queens, NY, by her Haitian immigrant mother and grandmother, Christine grew up being inspired by the work of her cousin, the late abstract expressionist, Jean-Michel

Basquiat. She paints under the moniker Melosa Basquiat as a tribute to her cousin and the Basquiat legacy of activism.

Her grandmother who raised her, Cheristine Basquiat was a successful hat designer, political activist and political prisoner in Haiti while

under the dictatorship of Francois "Papa Doc" Duvalier. Due to her grandmother's activism her family fled to the US for safety and the rest is Black History!

Christine began painting as a form of therapy, using art as a way to process, heal, and reconnect with her purpose. What started as apersonal outlet grew into something much greater. In 2019, she launched the Melosa Basquiat Experience, an art studio where she help others discover painting as a therapeutic and transformative practice. Through this work, she creates spaces where art becomes a tool for healing, reflection, and spiritual connection.

Her commitment to the legacy of art and activism is evident in the themes she explores, echoing Jean-Michel's dedication to justice and the amplification of Black narratives. As she continues to walk in obedience to her purpose, Melosa Basquiat strives to be a catalyst for change in her community, utilizing her God-given gift to inspire, educate, and contribute to the ongoing narrative of Black History.

Melosa Basquiat expresses her artistic vision predominantly using acrylics on a variety of unconventional canvases and experimenting with diverse mixed media. Not confined to traditional surfaces, she sees potential artistic outlets in anything within reach. A distinctive element of her creative tribute lies in the unconventional choice of painting on hats, a meaningful homage to her grandmother's lasting legacy. She resides in Long Island, New York with her husband and two children.