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Who Was Jean-Michel Basquiat?
Jean-Michel Basquiat emerged as a prominent figure in the art world, initially gaining recognition for his graffiti under the pseudonym “SAMO” in New York City. Before his painting career flourished, he engaged in street sales of sweatshirts and postcards adorned with his unique artwork. His collaboration with Andy Warhol in the mid-1980s culminated in a joint exhibition that further established his reputation. Tragically, Basquiat passed away on August 12, 1988, in New York City.
Early Life
Born on December 22, 1960, in Brooklyn, New York, Basquiat was the son of a Haitian-American father and a Puerto Rican mother, drawing inspiration from his diverse cultural background. A self-taught artist, he began expressing his creativity at an early age, using sheets of paper his father, an accountant, brought home from work. His mother played a pivotal role in nurturing his artistic inclinations, encouraging him to explore his talents.
Basquiat first garnered attention for his graffiti art in the late 1970s under the moniker “SAMO.” Collaborating with a close friend, he inscribed cryptic aphorisms on subway trains and the walls of Manhattan, leaving an indelible mark on the urban landscape.
In 1977, Basquiat made the significant decision to leave high school a year prior to graduation. To support himself, he began selling sweatshirts and postcards featuring his artwork on the bustling streets of New York, setting the stage for his future success in the art world.
Crown Motif
Jean-Michel Basquiat prominently featured a crown motif in his earlier works, symbolizing his celebration of Black individuals as majestic royalty and saints. The crown itself, described by artist Francesco Clemente, is characterized by three peaks, representing Basquiat’s three royal lineages: the poet, the musician, and the great boxing champion. Clemente noted, “Jean measured his skill against all he deemed strong, without prejudice as to their taste or age.”
Paintings
After three years of struggle, Basquiat’s career gained significant momentum in 1980 with his inclusion in a group exhibition. His innovative fusion of words, symbols, stick figures, and animals garnered critical acclaim, and soon, his original works commanded prices as high as $50,000. This surge in popularity coincided with the emergence of Neo-Expressionism, a movement that ushered in a new wave of young and experimental artists, including Julian Schnabel and Susan Rothenberg.
In a remarkable moment for the art world, a Japanese billionaire shattered records in 2017 by purchasing Basquiat’s Untitled, a 1982 painting of a skull, for an astonishing $110.5 million at a Sotheby’s auction.
Basquiat and Warhol
In the mid-1980s, Basquiat collaborated with renowned pop artist Andy Warhol, leading to a joint exhibition that showcased a series of works featuring corporate logos and cartoon characters. Throughout this period, Basquiat continued to exhibit his art across the United States and internationally. In 1986, he traveled to Africa for a show in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, and later that year, at just 25 years old, he exhibited nearly 60 paintings at the Kestner-Gesellschaft Gallery in Hanover, Germany, becoming the youngest artist to showcase there.
Personal Problems
As Basquiat’s fame escalated, so did his personal struggles. By the mid-1980s, friends expressed growing concern over his escalating drug use. This period of excess led to paranoia and prolonged isolation from his surroundings. In a desperate attempt to overcome his heroin addiction, Basquiat left New York for Hawaii in 1988 but returned a few months later, claiming sobriety. Tragically, this was not the case, and he succumbed to a drug overdose on August 12, 1988, in New York City at the age of 27. Despite the brevity of his art career, Basquiat is credited with bringing the African American and Latino experience into the elite art world.
Following his death, Basquiat’s legacy was reignited in May 2017, when his Untitled skull painting sold for $110.5 million, setting records for the highest price paid for a work by an American artist and for a painting created after 1980. This sale also marked the highest price ever for a work by Basquiat and by a Black artist.
Death
Basquiat tragically passed away from a drug overdose on August 12, 1988, in New York City, leaving a profound impact on the art world at the age of 27.
Movie
In 1996, the biographical indie film Basquiat was released, directed by Julian Schnabel and featuring Jeffrey Wright in the title role, with David Bowie portraying Warhol among its acclaimed cast.