From the moment actress Angelina Jolie saw the graffiti tribute to iconic artist Jean-Michel Basquiat on the exterior of a New York City building, she knew it was the one. Jolie had been looking for real estate for her new venture Atelier Jolie, a creative studio for underserved artisans and tailors. The building, located at 57 Great Jones Street in Manhattan, has an amazing history dating back to the early 1900s.

This building was once owned by one of the leading artists in the pop art movement, Andy Warhol. Warhol purchased the building in 1970, and it later became home to Basquiat. The iconic 20th-century artist rented an apartment and a studio in the building in 1983. Basquiat rented this space until Warhol died in 1988.

Jolie recently signed an eight-year lease on the historic building. She has no plans of changing the graffiti exterior, which honors Basquiat. “[Jolie] loved the façade of the building and it being tagged up with the street art as a memorial for Basquiat,” Garrett Kelly, director at Meridian Capital Group, told ARTnews. The deal was confirmed earlier this month by John Roesch and Garrett Kelly, who are both directors at real estate firm Meridian Capital Group.

The interior of the building will be transformed into a space where artisans can work and showcase their designs.

 

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57 Great Jones Street History

Prior to Warhol purchasing the building, it was owned by gangster Paul Kelly, whose birth name was Paolo Antonio Vaccarelli. In 1904, Kelly opened the Brighton Athletic Club. It was then used as a kitchen supply company and metal works business before Warhol became the owner. The building was most recently owned by the Japanese restaurant Bohemian.

The property was on the market with Meridian Capital Group for $60,000 per month with a minimum of 10 years. This commercial-use building features 6,600 square feet spread across three floors.