Today marks the 20th anniversary of the death of Jean-Michel Basquiat.
While not a household name, I find him to be one of the most compelling artists of the 20th century. Besides his inimitable, un-trained painting style, Jean-Michel exuded “the Artist” about as much as anyone since Picasso (I’m tame compared to these guys.)
Two crucial pieces in understanding Basquiat (who early on went by the street aka SAMO) are the movie Basquiat by Julian Schnabel and Basquiat: A Quick Killing in Art (Revised Edition) by Phoebe Hoban.
So next time you see some kid on the street who wants to sell you art for $10, remember, he could be the next big thing.
2 Comments
December 12, 2008 at 8:27 am
Hi, i’m writing from Italy.
I’m very passionate about Basquiat, about his weird life which brought him to death but also to this kind of stange polpularity he denied and praised ( living it ) at the same time.
In Rome during these days, until february, there is an exibition dedicated to him.
To all those ones who are visiting Rome, and would like to go to the exibitio, the place is Palazzo Ruspoli, in Via del Corso. Title “Jean-Michel Basquiat – Fantasmi da scacciare”.
Bye
November 25, 2009 at 4:36 pm
what did he use to paint these pictures