Jean-Michel Basquiat was born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1960 and is regarded as one of the most important artists of 20th-century American art. His remarkably influential career began in the late 1970s within New York’s street art scene under the pseudonym SAMO, before he quickly gained international recognition as a painter and draftsman.
Basquiat developed a unique visual language combining expressive painting, drawing, words, symbols, and signs. His works explore themes of identity, heritage, social inequality, power structures, history, and the African American experience. Drawing inspiration from art history, jazz, literature, anatomy, and popular culture, he created powerful compositions filled with energy and critical reflection.
During the 1980s, Basquiat became a central figure in New York’s international art scene and collaborated closely with artists such as Andy Warhol. Although he died at the age of only 27, he left behind a groundbreaking body of work that profoundly influenced contemporary art.
Today, Jean-Michel Basquiat is considered one of the leading figures of the Neo-Expressionist movement. His paintings, drawings, and prints are held in major museums and private collections worldwide and remain among the most sought-after works in the international art market.