Few lives have been as haunting and explosive to the art community as that of Jean-Michel Basquiat. Basquiat was a neo-expressionist artist who focused on street art and graffiti.
Tragically, his death came at the ripe age of 27. Even though he died young, like many short-lived artists, he continued to rise in fame even after his death, securing his place in history.
Biography
Early Life
Basquiat was born in Brooklyn to a father of Haitian descent and a mother of Puerto Rican descent.
His later works would celebrate American, Haitian, and Puerto-Rican culture. They also explored some of the darker areas of society, such as class inequality and struggle.
Education
Basquiat’s talent enabled him to enroll in a private art school at a remarkably young age. Despite his artistic abilities and excelling in school, his home life was tumultuous. He ran away at the age of 15, albeit briefly.
In school, Basquiat began exploring the world of street art and graffiti. He began working with a friend under the pseudonym “SAMO.”
At 17, he dropped out of school, left his family home, and continued to experiment with street art.
By 1980, he began to receive critical acclaim at only 19 years old.
Famous Works
Basquiat’s first commercial painting was “Cadillac Moon”. It was produced and sold in 1981 to Debbie Harry (of Blondie) for $200.
During that time in his life, Basquiat found support and financially relied on his girlfriend, who worked as a waitress. The couple had many struggles that luckily did not last long. He found himself quickly gaining momentum in the art scene, and things began to change very quickly for them both.
Untitled (Skull)

The next two years were filled with exhibitions. It was here the young artist became acquainted with Andy Warhol in 1982. In 1983, Basquiat began dating the then-unknown singer, Madonna. Not only was he gifted and talented, but he could also see the talent others possessed. He often told people, “She’s going to be huge.”
That same year, he became the youngest artist to represent the United States in a major art exhibit – The Whitney Biennial. He also produced a rap single and that was influenced by police brutality, and he painted Defacement (The Death of Michael Stewart) after the killings in September.
Jawbone of an Ass by Jean-Michel Basquiat

By 1985, Basquiat had secured his fame. He was often seen in paint-splattered Armani suits and featured on the cover of magazines.
In just a few short years, he had transitioned from relative obscurity to becoming a prominent name in modern art.
Death
Sadly, Basquiat developed an addiction to cocaine and heroin.
Peers suggested that this was due to coping with his newfound fame. He struggled with trying to find his place in the world, and the nature of the art industry itself weighed on him.
Friends encouraged Basquiat to enroll into a drug treatment program, but Basquiat refused.
Eventually his drug addiction continued to influence his life, relationships, and his future. He increasingly became more reclusive following the death of his friend Andy Warhol in 1987.
Finally, one day in 1988, he traveled to Maui and reported not long after, that he had overcome his drug addiction.
Sadly, only a few short months later, he was found dead of a heroin overdose. Basquiat’s death was mourned by the entire art community.
Art Reproduction Mediums
Basquiat was incredibly prolific during his career. He created approximately 1,500 drawings and 600 paintings. His art today is highly collectible.
He was known as one of the earliest “street artists” and “neo-expressionists”. His art marked a radical shift within the art scene at that time.
Some of his most famous paintings include pieces with significant Haitian influence, such as “Untitled (Skull)” from 1981 and “Slave Auction” (1982), which was a depiction of America’s dark past.
Basquiat’s work has been collected by famous people such as David Bowie, Lars Ulrich, Leonardo DiCaprio, Jay-Z, and, of course, Madonna.
In 2017, one piece of his art sold for $110.5 million. This was reported to be a record-breaking sum. The purchaser was an art collector and the art piece he acquired was “Untitled (Skull).”
Legacy
Admirers of Basquiat’s art appreciate the eloquence and simplicity with which he conveyed emotions, color palettes, and unrestrained use of lines, shapes, and various compositions. His admirers described him as having “a highly individualistic, expressive view of the world.”
Some critics find Basquiat’s work noisy and random, describing it as chaotic. Some divisive commentary described him as a “talentless hustler”.
Whether he was revered or hated, by the time of his death, everyone was talking about him.
View our currently available works of art by Basquiat or contact us at Dane Fine Art for assistance. We are happy to answer any questions and help you find the artwork you are looking for.