Jean-Michel Basquiat

Jean-Michel Basquiat

Basquiat painting

Jean- Michel Basquiat 
( December 22, 1960- August 12, 1988) 

BOHEMIAN/LADIES' MAN/GENIUS/POET/DRUGGIE 

Jean- Michel Basquiat wan an American artist, and primary player in the 
1980's counter culture art movement of the East Village in NYC. He began his career doing obscure street graffitti art in 
  during the late 70's, however later evolved into an acclaimed Neo- Expressionist & Primitivist painter by the 80's. 

Jean-Michel was born and grew up in Brooklyn with his two sisters, 
leaving home at 18 to pursue his art career. 

Basquiat generally explored suggestive dichotomies, such as wealth vs.poverty and integration vs.segregation, 
often always incorporating social commentary into his artwork.
Basquiat viewed art as a " Springboard to deepen truths about the individual." 

He was heavily involved in the social scene of the time, which included musicians, artists, and designers of 
the counter culture movement including Andy Warhol, Keith Haring, Kenny Scharf, BLONDIE, Madonna, etc. 

Basquiat died August 12 1988 of Opiates and Cocaine overdose.