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Description
Artist: Jean-Michel Basquiat
Jean-Michel Basquiat ( en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean-Mic…, 1960–1988) was an influential American artist of Haitian and Puerto Rican descent. He gained fame in the late 1970s, as part of the graffiti duo "SAMO" in New York City. Basquiat's art focused on dichotomies such as wealth versus poverty, integration versus segregation, and inner versus outer experience.
His paintings, characterized by a raw energy and expressive style, incorporated text, symbols, figures, and animals. They tackled themes of race, identity, social class, history, and culture. His work is often associated with the neo-expressionist movement.
Life of Basquiat
Jean-Michel Basquiat was born on December 22, 1960, in Brooklyn, New York City. He dropped out of school but his talent for art was recognized from an early age.
Early Life and Graffiti Art:
Basquiat began his career as a graffiti artist in New York City in the late 1970s, under the pseudonym "SAMO" (short for "same old shit").
His graffiti attracted the attention of the New York art world, and he transitioned to painting and mixed-media work in the early 1980s.
Art Career and Fame:
Basquiat's first major exhibition was in 1982 at the Annina Nosei Gallery in New York City.
His work quickly gained international recognition and he became one of the youngest artists to ever participate in Documenta, a prestigious international art show in Kassel, Germany.
Throughout the 1980s, Basquiat collaborated with various artists, notably Andy Warhol.
Death and Legacy:
Basquiat struggled with drug addiction and tragically died of a heroin overdose in 1988 at his art studio in New York City, at the age of only 27.
Despite his short career, Basquiat left a significant impact in the art world. His paintings continue to fetch high prices at auctions, and his art and life continue to be explored in numerous articles, books, and films.

Key Works
Among Jean-Michel Basquiat's most well-known works are:
"Untitled" (1982): This painting of a skull sold for $110.5 million at auction in 2017, setting a record for a work by an American artist.
"Irony of a Negro Policeman" (1981): This work challenges the idea of African-Americans in positions of power in a social structure that is predominantly white.
"Self Portrait" (1984): This self-portrait, often associated with Picasso's work, shows a crowned figure, a motif commonly seen in Basquiat's work representing power and majesty.
"In Italian" (1983): This painting is filled with text/scribbles and a multi-element composition, illustrating Basquiat's mix of high culture and street aesthetic.
"Riding with Death" (1988): Painted in the year of his death, this piece reveals Basquiat's contemplation with mortality and vulnerability.
These pieces and others reflect the energy, intellect, and anxiety of Basquiat's life and work.

Description
Artist: Jean-Michel Basquiat
Jean-Michel Basquiat ( en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean-Mic…, 1960–1988) was an influential American artist of Haitian and Puerto Rican descent. He gained fame in the late 1970s, as part of the graffiti duo "SAMO" in New York City. Basquiat's art focused on dichotomies such as wealth versus poverty, integration versus segregation, and inner versus outer experience.
His paintings, characterized by a raw energy and expressive style, incorporated text, symbols, figures, and animals. They tackled themes of race, identity, social class, history, and culture. His work is often associated with the neo-expressionist movement.
Life of Basquiat
Jean-Michel Basquiat was born on December 22, 1960, in Brooklyn, New York City. He dropped out of school but his talent for art was recognized from an early age.
Early Life and Graffiti Art:
Basquiat began his career as a graffiti artist in New York City in the late 1970s, under the pseudonym "SAMO" (short for "same old shit").
His graffiti attracted the attention of the New York art world, and he transitioned to painting and mixed-media work in the early 1980s.
Art Career and Fame:
Basquiat's first major exhibition was in 1982 at the Annina Nosei Gallery in New York City.
His work quickly gained international recognition and he became one of the youngest artists to ever participate in Documenta, a prestigious international art show in Kassel, Germany.
Throughout the 1980s, Basquiat collaborated with various artists, notably Andy Warhol.
Death and Legacy:
Basquiat struggled with drug addiction and tragically died of a heroin overdose in 1988 at his art studio in New York City, at the age of only 27.
Despite his short career, Basquiat left a significant impact in the art world. His paintings continue to fetch high prices at auctions, and his art and life continue to be explored in numerous articles, books, and films.

Key Works
Among Jean-Michel Basquiat's most well-known works are:
"Untitled" (1982): This painting of a skull sold for $110.5 million at auction in 2017, setting a record for a work by an American artist.
"Irony of a Negro Policeman" (1981): This work challenges the idea of African-Americans in positions of power in a social structure that is predominantly white.
"Self Portrait" (1984): This self-portrait, often associated with Picasso's work, shows a crowned figure, a motif commonly seen in Basquiat's work representing power and majesty.
"In Italian" (1983): This painting is filled with text/scribbles and a multi-element composition, illustrating Basquiat's mix of high culture and street aesthetic.
"Riding with Death" (1988): Painted in the year of his death, this piece reveals Basquiat's contemplation with mortality and vulnerability.
These pieces and others reflect the energy, intellect, and anxiety of Basquiat's life and work.