The artwork titled “Self Portrait” was created by Jean-Michel Basquiat in 1986. It is part of the Neo-Expressionism and Street Art movements and is currently housed at the Barcelona Museum of Contemporary Art (MACBA) in Barcelona, Spain. This piece falls under the genre of self-portrait.
The artwork features a central figure rendered in an expressive and somewhat primitive style, typical of Jean-Michel Basquiat’s oeuvre. The figure appears skeletal, with spiky, crown-like hair and a grimacing visage, reflecting a raw, haunting intensity. Surrounding the figure are abstract shapes and splashes of bold colors such as red, green, and yellow. The piece has an energetic yet chaotic composition, characterized by strong lines and spontaneous brushstrokes, conveying a sense of unrest and internal conflict. Elements of text and symbols are faintly integrated into the backdrop, adding layers of meaning and contributing to the narrative complexity that is emblematic of Basquiat’s work.
