Jean-Michel Basquiat

Jean-Michel Basquiat (1960–1988) was an American artist who rose from the New York street art scene to become one of the most influential painters of the 1980s. Beginning as a graffiti artist under the tag SAMO, Basquiat developed a raw, expressive style that blended text, symbols, anatomical drawings, and references to African, Caribbean, and African-American history.

His paintings combine gestural brushwork with fragmented language, crowns, skulls, and historical references. Basquiat used his work to confront themes of race, identity, power, and inequality, often highlighting overlooked Black figures from history and culture.

Associated with the Neo-Expressionist movement, Basquiat brought the energy of street culture into the contemporary art world. He collaborated with Andy Warhol and quickly gained international recognition before his death at age 27.

Today his work is among the most valuable in contemporary art, celebrated for its intensity, cultural commentary, and lasting influence on both fine art and street culture.