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Jean-Michel Basquiat
Artist

Jean-Michel Basquiat

Famoose for

Combining text, anatomy, history and street imagery in influential 1980s paintings.

Untitled (Skull) · Untitled

Born
22 December 1960
Birthplace
New York City, United States
Died
12 August 1988

More people

Leonardo da VinciPainting the Mona Lisa and The Last Supper.Frida KahloPainting self-portraits about identity, pain and Mexican life.Vincent van GoghPainting The Starry Night and Sunflowers.

Jean-Michel Basquiat

Jean-Michel Basquiat was an American artist whose rapid rise connected New York’s downtown culture with the international art world.

Early life

Brooklyn childhood

Grew up with a Haitian father and a mother of Puerto Rican background.

Early visual interests

Developed an interest in drawing, museums and anatomy.

Career

  1. Late 1970s

    SAMO

    Made text-based street work with Al Diaz.

  2. Early 1980s

    Gallery breakthrough

    Began exhibiting paintings internationally.

  3. 1980s

    Major recognition

    Worked prolifically before his death at twenty-seven.

Selected work

Untitled (Skull)

Combined a head-like form with layered marks and colour.

Untitled

Created a celebrated skull-like figure against blue.

Hollywood Africans

Examined representation and racial stereotypes.

Beyond the studio

Music

Was involved in the experimental band Gray.

Collaboration

Made paintings with Andy Warhol.

Sources & photo creditLife, career and references ↗

Photo: Unknown author Unknown author. Public domain · Original image. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.