Kay first met Basquiat in late 1978, amid the vibrant, chaotic energy of Manhattan’s Lower East Side. Their bond was immediate, forged through shared passions for art, poetry, and the cityโs electric atmosphere. โIt was great fun,โ Kay recalls, emphasizing the serendipitous nature of their connection in a community where โeveryone knew everyone.โ This deep friendship put Kay in a unique position to witness Basquiatโs meteoric rise firsthand.



