Jean Michel Basquiat

Jean Michel Basquiat was an African American, neo-expressionist artist of Haitian and Puerto Rican descent. Born in Brooklyn, New York , on December 22, 1960, Jean expressed a passion for art during his early childhood.

By age six, Jean learned to paint and draw with the help of his mother’s encouragement. Remarkably, Jean’s Art was structurally anchored during the 1970’s New York City-based graffiti movement.

Unknown to Basquiat , it would be his friendship with an artist friend named Al Diaz that would represent the training wheels to his career as a historical and admired artist and painter.

Following in 1972, Jean and his artist friend Al Diaz began an art project by the name of “SAMO,” an acronym for "Same Old Shit".

Basquiat expressed the separation by ending their project. This resulted in the artistic appearance of,” SAMO IS DEAD,” on a profusion of Soho art galleries, and downtown buildings.

During his early adulthood, Basquiat financially supported himself through selling hand-painted postcards and t-shirts, amongst other streams of revenue. Basquiat continued to follow his passion through hanging out with the artistic elite by frequenting various nightclubs such as the “Mudd Club,” and also “Club57.” Subsequently, in 1981, Basquiat appeared in the American Rock Band’s ,” Rapture,” music video as a music DJ.

Following, in 1982, Basquiat showcased his first solo exhibition at the Annina Nosei Gallery, in SoHo. His first solo exhibition indicated the start of a golden year for Basquiat. In addition, he headlined six solo shows in cities worldwide, and also begin exhibiting regularly with like minded artists like Julian Schnabel and David Salle.

Eventually, Basquiat became the youngest artist ever to be included in “Documenta.” An international contemporary art extravaganza which is held every five years in Kassel, Germany. As a matter of fact, he created 200 pieces of art work, developing a signature motif: a heroic, crowned black oracle figure.

Basquiat’s signature motif displayed in his art work represented his depiction of himself as KING, and also his political views of the world; additionally paying tribute to the artists, and people whom influenced his career as an artist.

During the mid 1980’s, Basquiat teamed up with one of his mentors: Andy Warhol resulting in a series of corporate logos and cartoon characters.

Blessings, Peace, and Prosperity to the family and friends of Jean Michel Basquiat. Thank you Basquiat for staying true to who you were as an artist while creating a two-way platform between the Black/Latino Community and the elite art world.

Your artwork is brilliant and has continued to prove longevity is not a fade.

Rest In Peace KING.

“I'd say my mother gave me all the primary things. The art came from her.”

-Jean Michel Basquiat

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QUEENIE•BLACK