In 2017, an untitled artwork depicting a sky-blue canvas ripped open by an enormous skull, teeth bared through visceral slashes of oil and spray paint, was auctioned off for over 110 million dollars. This masterpiece wasn’t the work of an old master, but of a 21-year-old black Brooklynite named Jean-Michel Basquiat, one of America’s most charismatic painters and currently its highest sold.
Born in 1960 to a Haitian father and a Puerto Rican mother, Basquiat spent his childhood making art and mischief in Boerum Hill. He never attended art school, instead, he learned by wandering through New York galleries and listening to the music his father played at home. He drew inspiration from unexpected places, scribbling his own versions of cartoons, comic books, and biblical scenes on scrap paper from his father’s office. However, it was a medical encyclopedia, “Grey’s Anatomy,” brought to his hospital bed by his mother after he was hit by a car, that arguably exerted the most powerful influence on Basquiat. It ignited a lifelong fascination with anatomy that manifested in the skulls, sinew, and guts of his later work, which frequently explores both the power and vulnerability of marginalized bodies.
By 17, Basquiat launched his first foray into the art world with his friend Al Diaz. They spray-painted cryptic statements and symbols all over Lower Manhattan, signed with the mysterious moniker SAMO. These humorous, profound, and rebellious declarations were strategically scattered throughout Soho’s art scene. After revealing himself as the artist, Basquiat leveraged SAMO’s success to enter the scene himself, selling postcards, playing clubs with his avant-garde band, and boldly seeking out his heroes. By 21, he’d turned to painting full-time.
Basquiat’s process was a sort of calculated improvisation. Like Beat writers who composed their work by shredding and reassembling scraps of writing, Basquiat used similar cut-up techniques to remix his materials. When he couldn’t afford canvases, he fashioned them out of discarded wood he found on the street. He used oil sticks, crayons, spray paint, and pencils and pulled quotes from the menus, comic books, and textbooks he kept open on the studio floor. He often worked on multiple projects at once, pulling in splintered anatomy, reimagined historical scenes, and skulls transplanted from classical still lives. Basquiat repurposed both present-day experiences and art history into an inventive visual language.
Despite his increasingly mainstream audience, Basquiat insisted on depicting challenging themes of identity and oppression. Marginalized figures take center stage, such as prisoners, cooks, and janitors. His obsession with bodies, history, and representation can be found in works evoking the Atlantic slave trade and African history, as well as pieces focusing on contemporary race relations.
In less than a decade, Basquiat made thousands of paintings and drawings, along with sculptures, fragments of poetry, and music. His output accelerated alongside his meteoric rise to fame, but his life and work were cut tragically short when he died from a drug overdose at the age of 27. After his death, Basquiat’s work only increased in value, but the energy and flair of his pieces have impacted much more than their financial worth. Today, his influence swirls around us in music, poetry, fashion, and film, and his art retains the power to shock, inspire, and get under our skin.
Using Basquiat’s early work as inspiration, create your own graffiti art. Think about the messages you want to convey and how you can use symbols and text to express them. Use paper and markers, or a digital drawing tool, to design your piece. Share your artwork with the class and explain the meaning behind your symbols and statements.
Choose one of Basquiat’s paintings and write a detailed analysis. Focus on the use of color, composition, and symbolism. Discuss how Basquiat’s background and experiences might have influenced the themes and elements in the painting. Present your analysis to the class, highlighting key points and inviting discussion.
Conduct research on the various influences in Basquiat’s life, such as “Grey’s Anatomy,” comic books, and historical events. Create a multimedia presentation that connects these influences to specific elements in his artwork. Use images, videos, and quotes to support your findings and present your project to the class.
Try to emulate Basquiat’s artistic process by creating a mixed-media artwork. Use materials like oil sticks, crayons, spray paint, and found objects. Incorporate text and imagery from various sources, such as menus, comic books, and textbooks. Document your process with photos or videos and share your final piece with the class, explaining your creative choices.
Participate in a class debate on the impact of Basquiat’s work and legacy. Divide into two groups: one arguing that Basquiat’s work is primarily valuable for its financial worth, and the other arguing that its cultural and artistic impact is more significant. Use evidence from his life, work, and influence in contemporary culture to support your arguments. After the debate, reflect on what you learned about Basquiat’s enduring influence.
genius – exceptional intellectual or creative power or other natural ability – Albert Einstein was a true genius, revolutionizing the field of physics with his theories of relativity.
Jean-Michel Basquiat – an influential American artist of Haitian and Puerto Rican descent, known for his graffiti-inspired paintings – Jean-Michel Basquiat’s artwork often combined elements of street art and abstract expressionism.
artwork – a visual creation or expression of aesthetic beauty, skill, or imagination – The museum displayed a wide range of artwork, including paintings, sculptures, and mixed media installations.
canvas – a strong, durable fabric used as a surface for painting – The artist stretched the canvas tightly over a wooden frame before starting to paint.
skull – the bony structure of the head, enclosing and protecting the brain and other facial features – The artist used a skull as a recurring motif in his artwork, symbolizing the fragility of life.
oil – a viscous liquid derived from petroleum, used as a medium for painting – The artist mixed different pigments with oil to create vibrant colors on the canvas.
spray paint – a type of paint that is dispensed as a fine mist from a pressurized container – The graffiti artist used various colors of spray paint to create a vibrant mural on the side of the building.
painter – a person who creates paintings using various techniques and mediums – The famous painter spent hours in his studio, meticulously working on his latest masterpiece.
charismatic – possessing a compelling charm or attractiveness that inspires devotion in others – The charismatic artist captivated the audience with his dynamic personality and artistic talent.
masterpiece – a work of outstanding artistry, skill, or workmanship – The painting was widely regarded as the artist’s masterpiece, showcasing his incredible talent and creativity.
