Jean-Michel Basquiat – Artwork & Bio of the American Painter

Jean-Michel Basquiat was an American painter born on 22 December 1960 in Brooklyn, New York. After he dropped out of high school, Basquiat developed his artistic ability solely by visualizing and practicing. He never attended an art school. Basquiat and his friend made graffiti on walls and buildings in downtown Manhattan, which helped him gain recognition.

In 1982, Basquiat held his first of many solo shows in SoHo at the Annina Nosei Gallery. Two years later, The Documenta included him in the art extravaganza, making him the youngest artist to feature in the event. As a way of coping with the pressures of the art world, the young artist did drugs frequently. On 12 August 1988, Basquiat died of a heroin overdose.

What was Jean-Michel Basquiat Known For?

Jean-Michel Basquiat was known for painting graffiti-esque works that often addressed the distinction between two factions, such as rich and poor and black and white races. His work showcases the artist’s level of expression through relatable motifs and a rich application of vivid colors. In some of his later works, Basquiat collaborated with Andy Warhol, although to the dismissal of critics and viewers.

Who was Jean-Michel Basquiat Influenced By?

The texts and images in the book Grey’s Anatomy influenced some of the motifs of Basquiat’s works. While hospitalized as an eight-year-old, Basquiat read the medical series to pass the time, and the effects are evident in the artist’s skull paintings. Robert Rauschenberg, Cy Twombly, and Jean Dubuffet impacted Basquiat’s art.

What Art Movement was Jean-Michel Basquiat Associated With?

Jean-Michel Basquiat was associated with the Neo-Expressionism art movement. In Basquiat’s painted abstractions, he combined several techniques and methods, fusing subjects and motifs to communicate a message expressively.

Jean-Michel Basquiat Artwork

In his short-lived career, Basquiat created a few paintings that stormed the art scene. Below are some of them

Aboriginal

Bird on Money

Boxer

Boy and dog in a Johnnypump

Exu

Fishing

Flexible

Head

Irony of the Negro Policeman

Net Weight

Philistines

Profit I

Riddle Me This, Batman

Riding with Death

Skull

The Dingoes That Park Their Brains with their Gum

Victor

All Jean-Michel Basquiat Artwork on Artchive