"I don't listen to what art critics say. I don't know anybody who needs a critic to find out what art is"
Jean-Michel Basquiat (1960–1988) was an American artist whose meteoric rise in the early 1980s transformed contemporary art. Born December 22, 1960 in Brooklyn, Basquiat first gained attention under the pseudonym SAMO, creating cryptic graffiti across downtown Manhattan before emerging as a defining figure of the neo-expressionist movement.
His paintings fuse text, symbolism, anatomy, race, jazz, and street iconography into a raw visual language that remains instantly recognisable. Characterised by bold colour, frenetic linework, and layered references to Black history and cultural identity, Basquiat’s work challenged and redefined the boundaries of high art.
By his early twenties, he was exhibiting internationally and collaborating with major figures including Andy Warhol. Despite his short life, Basquiat produced an extraordinary body of work, becoming one of the most influential artists of the 20th century. His paintings now stand among the most sought-after and culturally significant artworks of the modern era.
Basquiat died on August 12, 1988, yet his impact continues to shape global contemporary art, culture, and visual language more than three decades later.